Compare towns
Hartford vs Rupert vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Rupert | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
676Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Rupert and Waitsfield 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Waitsfield 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Rupert and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Rupert 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Waitsfield 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 |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Rupert 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.