Compare towns
Hartford vs Pomfret vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Pomfret | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
908Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waitsfield 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 4% below VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Hartford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Waitsfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
VT 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.