Compare towns
Hartford vs Hanover vs Essex Junction 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Essex Junction has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Essex Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
11,685Highest |
10,803 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Essex Junction 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Hanover High School | Essex High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
10.7 |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.