Compare towns
Wilder vs Strong vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WilderLebanon, NH
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
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 | Strong | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,249Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strong 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong 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 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.