Compare towns
Wilder vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
699Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Reading 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 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Reading and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Wilder 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.