Compare towns
Hartland vs Derby vs Westminster 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).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Derby | Westminster | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
4,537 |
2,999Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Hartland and Westminster 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% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 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+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartland and Westminster 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% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest 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 | $86,136±$23kHighest 6% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Hartland and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% 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 | — | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Derby 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% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.