Compare towns
Hartford vs Keene vs Pomfret 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 most renters (44.9% rent).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Waterbury has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Pomfret | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,939Highest |
908Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% 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. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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% |
15.4%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret 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% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% 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% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Pomfret 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. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98 17% 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 | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% 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%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 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. |
24 min 11% 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% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.