Compare towns
Hartford vs Enfield vs Brattleboro 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Enfield | Brattleboro | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,475Lowest |
12,122Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$95,474±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Enfield 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±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$390,800±$71k 17% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Enfield 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. |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Brattleboro 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% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.