Compare towns
Hartford vs Keene vs Durham vs Brattleboro
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Keene | Durham | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
22,939Highest |
15,080 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Durham and Keene 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% 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% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brattleboro 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School | Oyster River High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.