What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanton has the most kids (24.3% 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	Swanton	Wilder
People
Population	2,670Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT
	Wilder and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT
	Wilder and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT	$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average	$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT
	Swanton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,370Lowest 13% below VT	$5,505Highest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wilder and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 9% below VT	17 minLowest 29% below VT
Work from home	7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wilder and Swanton 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

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.