Compare towns
Waterbury vs Wilder vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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.
| Measure | Waterbury | Wilder | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,087 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Waterbury and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Wilder and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.