Compare towns
Hartford vs Newington vs Pomfret 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Newington | Pomfret | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
939 |
908Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pomfret and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Newington and Essex Junction 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Newington and Essex Junction 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Essex Junction 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Essex Junction 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 | — | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Newington School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.