Compare towns
Hartford vs Lee vs Mont Vernon vs Brattleboro
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Lee | Mont Vernon | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$185 22% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mont Vernon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.