Compare towns
White River Junction vs Canaan vs Wilder vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k 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 | White River Junction | Canaan | Wilder | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,811 |
3,087Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 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+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Canaan 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.