What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hinsdale has the most affordable homes ($201k 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.

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

Measure	Hinsdale	Hartford
People
Population	3,997Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Hinsdale and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hartford and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hinsdale and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,191±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.	$78,125±$7kHighest 3% below U.S.
	Hartford and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.	$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S.
	Hartford and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,899Lowest 57% above U.S.	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hinsdale and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Hinsdale 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	#110 of 120 in NH	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Hinsdale School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Hinsdale High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	9.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.