What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Leicester has the most homeowners (85.5%).

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	Leicester
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-10%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT	48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT
	Leicester 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%	14.9%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Leicester 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%	24.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Wilder and Leicester 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%	35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT
	Wilder and Leicester 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	$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average
	Leicester 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 7% below VT	$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT
	Wilder and Leicester 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	$3,822Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%	33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Wilder and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.5%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	12.7%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Leicester and Wilder 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.