Compare towns
Wilder vs Barre vs Lebanon
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%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Barre | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
8,412 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Barre 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% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lebanon and Barre 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% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.