What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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	Madison	Wilder
People
Population	2,680Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Madison and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Madison and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 16% below U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.