Compare towns
Hartford vs Exeter vs Keene 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Keene | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brattleboro 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Exeter High School | Keene High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.1 |
12.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.