Compare towns
Waterbury vs Wilder vs Jackson
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,087 |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Wilder 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Wilder 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Jackson 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.