Compare towns
Hartford vs Enfield vs Plainfield vs Brattleboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Plainfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,475 |
2,522Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Enfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.