Compare towns

Hartford vs Exeter vs Pomfret

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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).

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.

MeasureHartfordExeterPomfret
People
Population
10,736
16,151Highest
908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
53.4±12.1Highest
37% above U.S.
Pomfret and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pomfret 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$84,229±$8k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$399,200±$144k
20% above U.S.
Exeter and Pomfret 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.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,170±$98Lowest
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$6,722
116% 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%
24%±22.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
30.3%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pomfret and Exeter 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 —
School district Hartford School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Hartford High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
12.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.