Compare towns
Wilder vs Waterbury vs Hartford vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Hartford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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 | Waterbury | Hartford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
5,405 |
10,736 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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 U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.