Compare towns
Hartford vs Cavendish 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).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Cavendish | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,242Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Cavendish and Hartford 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Hartford and Cavendish 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
19 minHighest 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.