What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilder	South Eliot
People
Population	3,087Lowest	4,203Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S.
	South Eliot 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%	15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7%	49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.	$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.	$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot 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%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Eliot 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

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.