Compare towns
Wilder vs Royalton vs Hartford vs Hartford Village
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Hartford Village has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Royalton | Hartford | Hartford Village |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,752 |
10,736Highest |
426Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±15.8 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Hartford Village 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% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20.9%±12.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford Village 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% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.7%±10.3Lowest 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$92,500±$74k 14% above VT |
| Royalton and Hartford Village 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 |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$277,600±$249k 12% below VT |
| Hartford and Hartford Village 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,221±$270Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford Village 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 |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$6,667Highest 32% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±45.5Lowest 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
60.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
0%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school 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.