Compare towns
Hartford vs Lee vs Mont Vernon 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
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Lee | Mont Vernon | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Lowest 10% 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% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Mont Vernon 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. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.