Compare towns

Hartford vs Windham vs White River Junction 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

Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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.

MeasureHartfordWindhamWhite River JunctionBrattleboro
People
Population
10,736
16,038Highest
3,364Lowest
12,122
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
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
3% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773
85% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
30% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH — #33 of 70 in VT
School district Hartford School District Windham School District — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Hartford High School Windham High School — Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6
12.8Highest
—
9.0Lowest
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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.