Compare towns
Hartford vs Waitsfield vs Brattleboro
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).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Waitsfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
1,918Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Brattleboro 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 |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 4% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Hartford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Brattleboro 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.