Compare towns
Hartford vs Hanover vs White River Junction vs Waterbury
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 most expensive homes ($843k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
8,479 |
3,364Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Waterbury 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% 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% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Hanover 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.