Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield vs Royalton 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
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | Plainfield | Royalton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,752 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Royalton 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Royalton 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Plainfield School District | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.