What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Orford
People
Population	10,736Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
	Orford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hartford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orford 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.	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Orford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Hartford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S.
	Orford and Hartford 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.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartford and Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Orford 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	—
School district	Hartford School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.