Compare towns
Hartford vs Lyme vs White River Junction 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
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Lyme | White River Junction | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
1,710Lowest |
3,364 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Brattleboro 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Brattleboro 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Brattleboro 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Brattleboro 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Lyme and White River Junction 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Brattleboro 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lyme School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | 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 | 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.