Compare towns
Hartford vs Stowe vs White River Junction vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% 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 | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,285 |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Stowe 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±$26k 4% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Stowe and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651 12% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
19 minHighest 18% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and White River Junction 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Stowe Town School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School | — | — |
| 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.