Compare towns
Lebanon vs Brattleboro vs Hartford vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Lebanon | Brattleboro | Hartford | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
12,122 |
10,736 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Brattleboro 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 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.