Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield vs West Windsor
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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,522 |
1,171Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and West Windsor 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% |
25.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Windsor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and West Windsor 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and West Windsor 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 | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Plainfield School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.