Compare towns
Wilder vs Belvidere vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
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 | Wilder | Belvidere | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
422Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Belvidere and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.