Compare towns
Hartford vs Henniker vs Lebanon vs Essex 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
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Essex Junction has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Lebanon | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
6,197Lowest |
14,999Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Essex Junction 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% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Lebanon 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. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.