Compare towns
Hartford vs Enfield vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
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).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,475 |
2,522Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest 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 |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartford 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Hartford 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%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% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$390,800±$71k 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above 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±$563Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% 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% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.