Compare towns
Hartford vs Stratton 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 oldest population (median age 43.2).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Stratton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
532Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.