Compare towns
Hartford vs Durham vs Mont Vernon
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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
15,080Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±2.8 10% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% 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% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Durham and Hartford 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. |
$9,432 202% 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% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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 | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| 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.