Compare towns
Wilder vs Cavendish vs Strafford
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%).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Wilder and Strafford 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.