Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Essex Junction 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 the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Essex Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
10,803 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Essex Junction 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Essex Junction 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. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Waterbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.