Compare towns
Hartford vs Waitsfield vs Waterbury 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
Waitsfield has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Waterbury | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,918Lowest |
5,405 |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Waterbury 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waitsfield 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±$34k 4% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Waterbury 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Waterbury and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$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 | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Waitsfield 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 | 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.