Compare towns
Hartford vs White River Junction vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,364 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Hartford 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.