Compare towns
Hartford vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs Essex Junction
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 most homeowners (67.8%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | White River Junction | Wilder | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
| Essex Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
| Essex Junction 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older 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 |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
19 minHighest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Essex Junction 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 | — | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | — | Essex 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 |
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.