Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs Richmond 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 youngest population (median age 43.2).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Richmond | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,285 |
4,159 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 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±$7k 4% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Richmond 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 4% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Stowe and Hartford 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Wilder 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer 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 |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.