What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colchester	Wilder
People
Population	17,648Highest	3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT
	Wilder and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	8.1%±3.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Colchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT	$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT	$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT
	Colchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,471Lowest 9% above VT	$5,505Highest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4%	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Colchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 15% below VT	17 minLowest 29% below VT
Work from home	19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Colchester and Wilder 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	#18 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Colchester School District	—
High school in town	Colchester High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.