Compare towns

Wilder vs Hanover vs Hartford vs Royalton

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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureWilderHanoverHartfordRoyalton
People
Population
3,087
11,685Highest
10,736
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
43.9±10.1
13% above U.S.
Wilder and Royalton 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%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Hanover 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%
19.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4
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%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
$103,938±$24k
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505
76% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
20 minHighest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Royalton 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 — #1 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT #48 of 70 in VT
School district — Dresden School District · Hanover School District Hartford School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town — Hanover High School Hartford High School White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Highest
9.6
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.