Compare towns

Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Pomfret

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).

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.

MeasureHartfordPortsmouthPomfret
People
Population
10,736
22,545Highest
908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
42.9±2Lowest
10% above U.S.
53.4±12.1Highest
37% above U.S.
Pomfret and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±6
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Pomfret 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%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hartford and Portsmouth 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
3% below U.S.
$106,219±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$84,229±$8k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$399,200±$144k
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,170±$98Lowest
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,018Highest
157% above U.S.
$6,722
116% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24%±22.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
30.3%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pomfret and Portsmouth 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 —
School district Hartford School District Portsmouth School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Hartford High School Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
11.4Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.