Compare towns
Wilder vs Grafton 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%).
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Grafton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,354Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
21%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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 | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,563±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Grafton 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 18% below U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Wilder 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 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.