Compare towns
Hartford vs Grantham 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 the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Grantham | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,465Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Grantham 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. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Grantham and Hartford 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. |
$343,100±$39kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Grantham and Hartford 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. |
— | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Brattleboro 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. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Grantham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | 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 |
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.