Compare towns
White River Junction vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
25,237Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and White River Junction 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dedham | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.