Compare towns
Hartford vs Johnson vs Plainfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,450 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Johnson 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.