Compare towns
Hartford vs Newington vs Wilder vs Essex 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Newington | Wilder | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
939Lowest |
3,087 |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Wilder 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest 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% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Wilder 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Essex Junction 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford 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 | — | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Newington School District | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | Essex 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.