Compare towns
Hartford vs Sandgate vs Pawlet
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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Sandgate | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
435Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Sandgate and Pawlet 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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 |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hartford and Sandgate 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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 |
— | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Pawlet 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 | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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.