Compare towns
Hartford vs Sharon vs Newfields 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
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Sharon | Newfields | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,577Lowest |
2,023 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Newfields 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% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Newfields 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. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Newfields 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Sharon School District | Newfields School District | — |
| 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 |
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.



