Compare towns
Hartford vs Waterbury vs Wilder vs Woodstock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
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 | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
5,405 |
3,087 |
3,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
| Woodstock 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Wilder 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
| Woodstock and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
| Woodstock 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 |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Woodstock 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% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Waterbury 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 | — | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.5Highest |
| 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.