Compare towns
Hartford vs Pomfret vs White River Junction vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | White River Junction | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
908Lowest |
3,364 |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
| Pomfret and Hartford 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction 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 4% below VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
| Essex Junction 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
| Essex Junction and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
| Essex Junction and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,722 33% above VT |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1970 6 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Essex Junction 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 | — | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.