Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs Hanover vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stowe | Hanover | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
5,285Lowest |
8,479 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
11.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.