What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	10,736Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Hartford 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%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee 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%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford and Ossipee 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.	$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.	$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
	Ossipee and Hartford 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.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee and Hartford 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 1 yr older than U.S.	1979 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 70 in VT	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Hartford School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.