Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Waterbury 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Waterbury | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
5,405 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest 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 |
43.2±3.7 11% above 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% 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% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest 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. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
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.