Compare towns
Wilder vs Nelson vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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 | Nelson | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
648Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Richmond 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 U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Nelson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.