Compare towns
Hartford vs Pomfret vs Wilder vs Brattleboro
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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Wilder | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
908Lowest |
3,087 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Pomfret and Brattleboro 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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$8kHighest 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Pomfret 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Pomfret and Hartford 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±$98 5% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Hartford and Pomfret 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 |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1970 6 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Brattleboro 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.