What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% 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	Marshfield
People
Population	3,087Highest	470Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT	42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average
	Wilder and Marshfield 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%	19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Marshfield 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%	10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Wilder and Marshfield 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	$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT
	Marshfield 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	$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT	$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT
	Wilder and Marshfield 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	$3,269Lowest 35% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Marshfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below VT	29 minHighest 24% above VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Marshfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.