Compare towns
White River Junction vs Hartford vs Keene
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%).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Hartford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
10,736 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene 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% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Keene and Hartford 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. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% 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±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Keene 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
18 minHighest 30% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.