What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k 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.

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

Measure	Wilder	Franconia
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S.
	Franconia 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%	15.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Franconia 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 U.S.: 17.2%	36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Franconia 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%	57.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wilder and Franconia 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 U.S.	$87,292±$28kHighest 8% above U.S.
	Franconia 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±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.	$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S.
	Franconia and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S.	$7,451Highest 139% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Franconia 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	20 minHighest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Lafayette Regional School District
High school in town	—	None in town
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.