Compare towns
Wilder vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
648Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Nelson 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% |
61.1%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% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Nelson 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%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. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Nelson 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.