What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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	6,601Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.	24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.6Lowest 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%	12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 3% below U.S.	$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Hartford and Plymouth 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.	$292,400±$22kLowest 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±$118Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Hartford and Plymouth 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.	$6,288Highest 102% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.8%±11.6Lowest 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%	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 min 30% below U.S.	18 min 30% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.6Lowest 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	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Plymouth Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.8Highest
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.