What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson 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%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Wilder and Jefferson 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.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Wilder and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Wilder 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.