Compare towns
Hartford vs Hanover vs Essex 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
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Essex Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
11,685Highest |
10,803 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Essex Junction 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Essex Junction 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Hanover High School | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
10.7 |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.