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Town Hall · Hartford

Hartford spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar towns

Hartford’s town government spent $19.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,791 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($842,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

West Hartford Library Trustees

6:00 pm · West Hartford Library, Community Room

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$19.3M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,791
In 2022: $1,927, more than 92% of 24 similar towns
Long-term debt
$29.4M
end of FY2023, reported
Town staff, 2025
108
full-time · 27 part-time · March payroll $882,980 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$5,773
1.90% of home value · VT 1.59%

What stands out about how Hartford is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar townsIn 2022: $1,927 per resident, more than 92% of 24 similar towns.Split between districts2 State House districts cover Hartford; your street decides yours.Its own police and fire24 sworn officers and 22 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Hartford’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Town Meeting Day
Tue, Mar 2

Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.

Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Hartford’s site for its warrant and dates.

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2023 budget

About $1,791 per resident a year, or $4.91 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 60%Fees & charges 25%Utility sales 7%From the state 4%Other taxes & licenses 3%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $637,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $20.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,927 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them

Hartford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,927 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,030, and the middle half spent $719–$1,328. Hartford spent more than 92% of them.

Middle half of the group, $719–$1,328Median $1,030Hartford

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
24

Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Hartford itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 5% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Hartford reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$18.4 million
2023$19.3 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,927 · 2023: $1,791. Per resident it went from $1,927 to $1,791 (down 7%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 9,566 to 10,772.

Town staff
108

full-time in March 2025, up from 102 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,773 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.90% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Norwich$10,000+
Woodstock$9,449
Lebanon$8,149
Pomfret$6,722
Hartland$6,437
Hartford$5,773
White River Junction$5,651
Wilder$5,505
Vermont$5,039
$5,773
typical bill a year
1.90%
effective rate
$304,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Hartford’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Hartford’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Hartford →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Hartford

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See hartford-vt.org for Hartford’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Hartford yet.hartford-vt.org ↗
Who works for Hartford

One full-time town employee for every 100 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (10,772).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police32 + 2 pt
Fire23
Administration & buildings16 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation12
Sewer & trash11 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries7 + 3 pt
Water & other utilities7
Health & welfare0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 9 pt
108
full-time
27
part-time
$882,980
payroll for March 2025
$10.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$95,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
24
sworn police officers
22
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Hartford didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Hartford School District

Hartford’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Hartford →
$29,482
per pupil · VT $25,064
1,451
students
$10.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $29,482 per pupil, $16,535 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 13%State 81%Federal 6%

Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Hartford voted in 2024

Official results for Hartford’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President6,229 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat70.0%4,363 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican26.5%1,649 votes

Others: 3.5% (217 votes).

Most votes in Hartford: Kamala D Harris

Windsor County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.5% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%

Turnout
73%

of Hartford’s 8,542 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate6,105 votes
Bernie Sanders69.4%
Gerald MalloyRepublican25.2%
Others5.4%

Most votes in Hartford: Bernie Sanders

Windsor County: Sanders 64.1%, Malloy 31.0% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%

Governor6,100 votes
Phil ScottRepublican68.0%
Esther Charlestin26.9%
Others5.1%

Most votes in Hartford: Phil Scott

Windsor County: Scott 72.7%, Charlestin 22.1% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%

U.S. House · Vermont’s at-large district350,616 votes
Becca BalintDemocrat62.3%
Mark Coester29.8%
Others7.9%

Most votes in the district: Becca Balint

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Hartford, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Hartford70.0%26.5%3.5%6,229
Windsor County65.8%30.5%3.7%34,289
Vermont63.8%32.3%3.9%369,422
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Hartford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Hartford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: hartford-vt.org ↗
  2. 2
    Vermont HouseHartford is split between 2 districts
    Esme ColeKevin ChristieMichael Hoyt
  3. 3
    Vermont SenateState senator
    Alison ClarksonBecca WhiteJoe Major
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Phil Scott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Becca Balint
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
    Bernard SandersPeter Welch
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Hartford compares with the towns next door

Hartford spent $1,927 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,035 to $2,127. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Wilder: unincorporated, no town budgetWhite River Junction: unincorporated, no town budgetPomfret: $1,370 per resident (2022)Woodstock: $2,127 per resident (2022)Hartland: $1,035 per resident (2022)Norwich: $1,398 per resident (2022)WilderWhite River JunctionPomfretWoodstockHartlandNorwichHartford
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Hartland$1,035$6,437
Pomfret$1,370$6,722
Norwich$1,398$10,000+
Woodstock$2,127$9,449
Hartford$1,927$5,773

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Hartford’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitehartford-vt.org ↗

Questions about Hartford’s government

How much does Hartford spend per resident?

About $1,791 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,927 was more than 92% of 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Hartford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,773 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see hartford-vt.org.

Who runs Hartford’s government?

See hartford-vt.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Hartford yet.

How did Hartford vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 70.0%, Donald J Trump 26.5% (6,229 votes, official results). Windsor County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.5%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.

How many people work for Hartford?

108 full-time and 27 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $882,980 (about $10.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Hartford in the state legislature?

Hartford is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Vermont Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Windsor (Alison Clarkson, Becca White and Joe Major). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is town meeting in Hartford?

Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check hartford-vt.org for Hartford’s own dates.

When is the next public meeting in Hartford?

The next posted meeting is West Hartford Library Trustees on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm in West Hartford Library, Community Room, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Hartford’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →