Compare towns
Barnard vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Barnard | White River Junction | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.