Compare towns
Hartford vs Randolph vs Bennington
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%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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 | Randolph | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,843Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
| Bennington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Bennington 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Hartford 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Randolph Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
9.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.