Compare towns
Wilder vs Bellows Falls vs Eliot
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%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Wilder | Bellows Falls | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,891Lowest |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.