Compare towns
Hartford vs Kensington 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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Kensington | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,009Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Kensington 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Kensington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.