Compare towns
Waterbury vs Wilder vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Wilder and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| 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 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| 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 28% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.