Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield vs Bellows Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Plainfield | Bellows Falls | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,522Lowest |
2,891 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Bellows Falls 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Plainfield 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 | 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.