Compare towns
Wilder vs Windham vs Plainfield 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 the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Hartford has the most kids (18% 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 | Windham | Plainfield | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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±$9k 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Plainfield 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 | — | — | — | Hartford School District |
| High school 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 | 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.