Compare towns
Hartford vs Springfield vs Wilder
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Springfield | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
9,084 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Hartford 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest 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±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.