Compare towns
Hartford vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,622Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Putney 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±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Hartford and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Hartford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 minHighest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 |
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.