Compare towns
Wilder vs Jackson 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%).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
897Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Wilder 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Hartford 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 30% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | Jackson School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.