Compare towns
Wilder vs Mendon vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% 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.
| Measure | Wilder | Mendon | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,113Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Mendon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Waterbury 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.