What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilder	Bridgewater
People
Population	3,087Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater 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%	12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bridgewater 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%	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Wilder and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT
	Wilder and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
	Wilder and Bridgewater 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	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Wilder and Bridgewater 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	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wilder and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.