Compare towns
Wilder vs Tunbridge vs Hartford vs Waterbury
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%).
Tunbridge has the most homeowners (84.2%).
Hartford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Tunbridge | Hartford | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,253Lowest |
10,736Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Tunbridge 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 |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Waterbury 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Tunbridge 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 | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.