Compare towns
Hartford vs Durham vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hartford | Durham | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
15,080Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Durham and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Oyster River High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.