Compare towns
Hartford vs Waterbury vs Pomfret vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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 | Waterbury | Pomfret | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
5,405 |
908Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pomfret 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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 3% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98 17% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Waterbury 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.