Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Wilder vs White River Junction
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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Wilder | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minHighest 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and White River 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | — | — |
| 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.