Compare towns
Hartford vs Newmarket vs Keene 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 homeowners (67.8%).
Newmarket has the highest household income ($101k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Newmarket | Keene | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
9,463Lowest |
22,939Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene 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% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$100,845±$13kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Newmarket 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±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$455,000±$22kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Newmarket 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. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Newmarket School District | Keene School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Keene High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
9.9 |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.