Compare towns

Wilder vs Williston vs Bedford

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%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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.

MeasureWilderWillistonBedford
People
Population
3,087Lowest
10,144
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
Wilder and Williston 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%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Williston 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%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Williston 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.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
Bedford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Williston 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford and Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT #7 of 120 in NH
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Bedford School District
High school in town — None in town Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.5
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.