Compare towns
Hartford vs Kensington vs Lebanon vs Mont Vernon
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 the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,009Lowest |
14,999Highest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2.8 10% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Hartford 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% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19k 96% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$9,432 202% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Kensington School District | Lebanon School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.