Compare towns
Wilder vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Reading | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
699Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Wilder and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.