Compare towns
Wilder vs Barnard vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Barnard | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea 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 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Wilder 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 VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Chelsea 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 VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Barnard and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.