Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon 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
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Essex Junction has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Essex Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
10,803 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% 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. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
14.6%±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% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Lebanon 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. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Essex High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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.