Compare towns
Hartford vs Castleton vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Hartford | Castleton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,453 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
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 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
19 minHighest 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Hartford and Wilder 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — |
| 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.