Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs Essex Junction vs Woodstock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Woodstock has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
3,087 |
10,803Highest |
3,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
| Woodstock 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 4% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,430±$346 16% above VT |
| Essex Junction and Woodstock 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.4%Highest 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 |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
22 minHighest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock 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 | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Essex High School | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.