Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Bow
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).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Lebanon | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Bow 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Bow 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.