Compare towns
Hartland vs Strafford vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.
| Measure | Hartland | Strafford | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,372Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Hartland and Derby 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Hartland 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartland and Derby 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,600±$39k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
| Strafford and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437 28% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Strafford School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.