Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Essex Junction vs Woodstock
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%).
Woodstock has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
10,803 |
3,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
56±3.6Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.7%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
52.9% 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% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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. |
$120,938±$29kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Woodstock 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. |
$582,000±$84kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,430±$346 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$9,449Highest 203% 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% |
44.7%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Woodstock 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% |
8.9% 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% |
69.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older 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. |
22 minHighest 17% below 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% |
32.8%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Woodstock 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 | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Essex High School | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.7Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.