Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs Essex Junction 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 most homeowners (67.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Essex Junction | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,087Lowest |
10,803 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% 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. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Essex 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Essex High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
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.