Compare towns
White River Junction vs Brighton 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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Brighton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
1,167Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Brighton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Hartford 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Brighton 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 |
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.