Compare towns

Wilder vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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.

MeasureWilderMeredithHartford
People
Population
3,087Lowest
6,758
10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
43.2±3.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Meredith and Wilder 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%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Meredith 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%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
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.
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
Meredith 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.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,218±$118Highest
14% below U.S.
Hartford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505
76% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
$5,773Highest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #62 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Hartford School District
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
9.6Lowest
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.