Compare towns
Dorchester vs Wilder vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Dorchester | Wilder | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,087Highest |
567 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest 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% |
38.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Brookfield 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% |
36.8% 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% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,406±$31kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,926Highest 90% 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Wilder 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 | 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.