What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k 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	Rutland	Hartford
People
Population	15,712Highest	10,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49±2.1Highest 14% above VT	43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average
	Rutland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	18%±3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hartford and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rutland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	47.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT	$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT	$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT	$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,657Lowest 8% below VT	$5,773Highest 15% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±8.2Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Rutland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	67.8%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 32% below VT	18 minHighest 22% below VT
Work from home	8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hartford and Rutland 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	#51 of 70 in VT	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Rutland City School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Rutland Senior High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.