Compare towns
Wilder vs Hartford vs Johnson vs Royalton
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%).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Johnson | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
10,736Highest |
3,450 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 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% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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 14% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| 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±$451 7% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.