Compare towns

Wilder vs Williston 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%).
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.

MeasureWilderWillistonBow
People
Population
3,087Lowest
10,144Highest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% 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%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow 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%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
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%
60.3%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%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
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.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
Bow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Williston and Bow 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.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Wilder 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%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow 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 #26 of 120 in NH
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Bow School District
High school in town — None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
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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.