Compare towns
Hartford vs Richmond vs Stowe vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Stowe | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,159 |
5,285 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stowe 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Richmond 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 4% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Richmond and Stowe 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±$39k 37% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Stowe and White River Junction 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.