Compare towns
Hartford vs Waterbury vs Wilder vs Lebanon
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).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
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 | Waterbury | Wilder | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
5,405 |
3,087Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Hartford 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 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. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Hartford 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.