Compare towns
White River Junction vs Barre vs Windsor vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Barre | Windsor | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
8,412 |
3,554 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Windsor and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Barre 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 5% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| 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 12% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
23 minHighest 3% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.