What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorchester has the most homeowners (96.3%).

Wilder has the most expensive homes ($273k median).

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	Dorchester	Wilder
People
Population	410Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+81.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Dorchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wilder and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S.	$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Wilder and Dorchester 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.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S.	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 52% above U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Dorchester 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.