Compare towns
Wilder vs Brookline 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Brookline | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
531Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder and Brookline 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% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Brookline 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±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
| Hartford and Brookline 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 |
| 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.