Compare towns
Hartford vs Pomfret vs Wilder vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Waterbury has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Pomfret | Wilder | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
908Lowest |
3,087 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Wilder 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% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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 VT: 43.8% |
58% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Hartford 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 |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Hartford and Pomfret 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 |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 | 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.