What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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	South Barre
People
Population	3,087Highest	1,346Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT	52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%	9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Wilder and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%	11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT	$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT
	South Barre 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 14% below VT	$257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT
	Wilder and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT	$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 9% above VT	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%	36.1%±40.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Wilder and South Barre 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%	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	82.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 29% below VT	15 minLowest 36% below VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.