Compare towns
Wilder vs St. Albans vs Bow
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%).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | St. Albans | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
6,954 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bow 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% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and St. Albans 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% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Wilder 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 | — | #46 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.