Compare towns

White River Junction vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionStraffordHartford
People
Population
3,364
1,372Lowest
10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
43.2±3.9
about the VT average
Strafford 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%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3
VT: 17.9%
Strafford 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%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Hartford and Strafford 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%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
47.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
4.9%±1.7
VT: 7%
Strafford 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
5% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$78,125±$7k
4% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78kLowest
12% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$304,500±$26k
4% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% 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
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$5,773
15% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±12.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
23 minHighest
about the VT average
18 min
22% below VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Strafford 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 — Strafford 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 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.