What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).

Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth
People
Population	10,736Highest	4,969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.	22.8±0.9Lowest 41% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hartford and Plymouth 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%	9.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	42.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.	$89,500±$32kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Plymouth 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.	$294,400±$28kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Hartford and Plymouth 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.	$1,296±$295Highest 8% below U.S.
	Plymouth 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.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartford and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.7%Lowest 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 minHighest 30% below U.S.	16 minLowest 38% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH
School district	Hartford School District	—
High school in town	Hartford High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
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.