Compare towns
Hartland vs Chester vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartland has the most expensive homes ($349k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Hartland | Chester | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,992Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Hartland and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Hartford 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Hartland and Hartford 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Hartland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.6Highest |
| 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.