Compare towns
Hartford vs Richmond vs Brattleboro vs Randolph
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%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Richmond | Brattleboro | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
4,159Lowest |
12,122Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Brattleboro 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% 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 | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Brattleboro 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
9.4 |
| 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.