Compare towns
Wilder vs Plainfield vs Richmond 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%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Richmond | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,522Lowest |
4,159 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Richmond 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.