Compare towns
Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Dover vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Dover | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.