Compare towns
Ashland vs Cambridge vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Ashland | Cambridge | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
3,767Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$72,344±$19k 10% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilder and Ashland 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 | — | #25 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Cambridge School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.