Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Meredith
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 kids (18% under 18).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% 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% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.