Compare towns
Hartford vs White River Junction vs Waterbury vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Waterbury | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,364Lowest |
5,405 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Waterbury 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| 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 |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #20 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 | 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.