What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Ascutney has the most affordable homes ($219k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartland	Ascutney
People
Population	3,460Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	55.8±5.1Lowest 29% above VT	64.4±7.3Highest 49% above VT
	Ascutney and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9%	10.2%±10.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hartland and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	44.9%±15Highest VT: 21.4%
	Ascutney and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	38.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	0%±3.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Hartland and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,136±$23kHighest 6% above VT	$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below VT
	Hartland and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT	$218,800±$91kLowest 31% below VT
	Hartland and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,437Highest 28% above VT	$3,429Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	100%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 4% below VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.5%±24.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ascutney and Hartland 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	#29 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Hartland School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.