Compare towns
Wilder vs Norwich 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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Hartford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Norwich | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
3,640 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Norwich and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 minHighest 19% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Norwich 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 |
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.