Compare towns
Wilder vs Keene vs Hartford vs Waterbury
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%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Keene | Hartford | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
22,939Highest |
10,736 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| 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.