Compare towns

Hartford vs Madbury 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).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).

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.

MeasureHartfordMadburyBrattleboro
People
Population
10,736
2,203Lowest
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below 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%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Hartford 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%
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
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.
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$476,900±$31kHighest
43% above U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,574±$759Highest
11% above U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
Madbury and Hartford 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.
$5,700Lowest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Hartford 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brattleboro and Madbury 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 Oyster River Coop 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

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.