What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).

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	Jefferson	Wilder
People
Population	1,013Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Wilder and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S.
	Wilder and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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

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.