Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Madbury 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 most renters (48.8% rent).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Madbury | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
2,203Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Waterbury 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
52.6% 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% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford 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. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Waterbury 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. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Waterbury 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. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Madbury 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest 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% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
25 min 4% 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% |
14%±3.6 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | 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.