Compare towns
Hartford vs Keene vs Brattleboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Keene | Brattleboro | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,939Highest |
12,122 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hartford 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Keene and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Brattleboro 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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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.