Compare towns
Wilder vs Middlesex vs Royalton vs Hartford
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Middlesex | Royalton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,943Lowest |
2,752 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Hartford 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.6Highest |
| 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.