Compare towns
Wilder vs Randolph vs Hartford vs White River Junction
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%).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Randolph | Hartford | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
4,843 |
10,736Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Randolph 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Hartford 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
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.