What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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	Orford
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
	Orford 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 U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orford 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder and Orford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wilder and Orford 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.	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Orford 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 18% below U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Wilder and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S.
	Orford 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.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	—	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.