Compare towns
Hartford vs Thetford 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).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Thetford | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,813 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Hartford 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 |
$88,045±$16kHighest 8% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Thetford 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 |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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 |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,200±$821 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 | $5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Thetford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | 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.