Compare towns
Wilder vs Bellows Falls vs Cavendish
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%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,891 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Cavendish 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
| Cavendish and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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.