Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Royalton vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Appleton | Mapleton | Royalton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,752 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton and Wilder 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.