Compare towns
Wilder vs Nelson vs Waterbury
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 homeowners (90.2%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
648Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
54.2%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% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% 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. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Nelson 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% 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. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Waterbury 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 | — | Nelson School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.