Compare towns
Hartford vs Windsor vs Walpole 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
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Windsor | Walpole | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,554Lowest |
3,690 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Walpole 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% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 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. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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 8% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Walpole 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. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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 |
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.