Compare towns
Hartford vs Enfield vs Waterbury 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).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Waterbury | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,475Lowest |
5,405 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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%±4.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest 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% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Brattleboro 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. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Waterbury and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% 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% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% 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. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above 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% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.