Compare towns
White River Junction vs Ashland vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k 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 | White River Junction | Ashland | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,183Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Ashland School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.