Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs Ashland
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 most expensive homes ($305k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,087 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartford and Wilder 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 | — | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.