What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deering has the most kids (17.3% 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	Deering	Wilder
People
Population	1,938Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Deering and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Deering and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$16kHighest 25% above U.S.	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,900±$27kHighest 7% below U.S.	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Deering and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$116Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Deering and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,223Highest 100% above U.S.	$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.