Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs Richmond vs Pomfret
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 affordable homes ($305k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Richmond | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,285 |
4,159 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
58% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above 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±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
| Stowe and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,722 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Richmond 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.