Compare towns
Wilder vs Durham vs Norwich 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
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hartford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Norwich | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,640 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 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+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.