Compare towns
Hartford vs Middlesex vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Middlesex 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 4% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.