Compare towns
Hartford vs Royalton vs Wilder vs Brattleboro
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 most expensive homes ($305k median).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Royalton | Wilder | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,752Lowest |
3,087 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro 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% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 4% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Royalton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | White River Unified School District #79 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | White River Valley High School | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | 9.0 |
| 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.