Compare towns
Wilder vs Waterbury vs Eliot
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
5,405 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.