Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Essex Junction
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Portsmouth | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% 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% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 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. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% 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% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older 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. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4 |
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.