Compare towns
Hartford vs Wilder vs South Berwick
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
3,087Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Hartford 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hartford School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.