Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs Lebanon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
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 | Stowe | Lebanon | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
5,285 |
14,999Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Stowe 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Stowe 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. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.3 |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.