Compare towns
Hartford vs Johnson vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Johnson | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,450 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Hartford and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Hartford and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Hartford and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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 |
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.