Compare towns
Hartford vs Rockingham 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
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Rockingham | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,807 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Rockingham 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% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham 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% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Rockingham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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 |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 |
$4,887Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rockingham and Hartford 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% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and White River Junction 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 | #65 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Rockingham School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.