Compare towns
Hartford vs Hanover vs Hanover vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hanover | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
8,479 |
11,685Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.