Compare towns
Hartford vs Topsham vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k median).
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 | Topsham | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
9,706 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Hartford 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Topsham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and White River Junction 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.