What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has the most people working from home (12.6%).

Wells River has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

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	Wells River
People
Population	3,087Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Wilder and Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wells River and Wilder 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Wilder and Wells River 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%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
	Wilder and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT	$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT
	Wilder and Wells River 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	$4,154Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 29% below VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wilder and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.