Compare towns
Wilder vs Appleton vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Wilder | Appleton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,360Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Wilder 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.