Compare towns
Hartford vs White River Junction vs South Berwick vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | White River Junction | South Berwick | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,364Lowest |
7,670 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Brattleboro 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and South Berwick 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 3% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Brattleboro 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Marshwood High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | 13.0Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.