Compare towns
Wilder vs Waterbury vs Brattleboro
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%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Waterbury | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
5,405 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Brattleboro 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Brattleboro 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Brattleboro 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 VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Waterbury 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±$18k 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Wilder and Brattleboro 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 |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.