Compare towns
White River Junction vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
699Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Reading 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 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Reading 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±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 | $5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 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%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 History | 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.