What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hancock has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

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	Hancock
People
Population	3,087Highest	435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT	33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT
	Wilder and Hancock 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%	17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hancock and Wilder 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%	19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Wilder and Hancock 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%	34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Wilder and Hancock 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	$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT
	Hancock 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±$18kHighest 14% below VT	$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT	$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT
	Wilder and Hancock 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	$3,511Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%	3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below VT	28 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9%	11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wilder and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.