Compare towns
White River Junction vs Hartford vs Cambridge
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%).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
10,736Highest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% 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±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Cambridge and Hartford 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 |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,183±$66Lowest 4% below VT |
| 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 |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$4,910Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| 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.