Compare towns
Wilder vs Hartford vs Hanover vs White River Junction
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%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Wilder | Hartford | Hanover | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
10,736 |
11,685Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and White River Junction 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.