Compare towns
Hartford vs Hanover vs Stowe vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stowe | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
8,479 |
5,285 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Hartford 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.