Compare towns
Hartford vs White River Junction vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 43.2).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | White River Junction | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,364Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
| Durham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.