What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has the most expensive homes ($273k median).

Dorchester has the most homeowners (96.3%).

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	Dorchester
People
Population	3,087Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S.
	Dorchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wilder and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorchester 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%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S.	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.	$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S.
	Wilder and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	40 minHighest 52% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Dorchester 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

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.