What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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	Orwell	Wilder
People
Population	1,294Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT	45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT
	Orwell and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Wilder and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%
	Wilder and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT
	Wilder and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT	$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT	$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT
	Wilder and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT	$5,505Highest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 15% above VT	17 minLowest 29% below VT
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.