What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).

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	South Eliot	Wilder
People
Population	4,203Highest	3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S.	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S.	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S.	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%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	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Eliot 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.