Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Hartford vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Essex Junction | Hartford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
10,736 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 18% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Essex 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.