What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

Hinesburg has the most expensive homes ($463k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Hinesburg
People
Population	10,736Highest	4,718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+6.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average	50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT
	Hinesburg and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3 VT: 17.9%	18%±5.3 VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hinesburg 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	64.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT	$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT	$463,400±$51kHighest 46% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average	$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Lowest 15% above VT	$7,667Highest 52% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.2%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hinesburg and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	20 minHighest 17% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hinesburg 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	#4 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	Hartford High School	Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	14.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.