Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlesex vs White River Junction vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the highest household income ($111k).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Bolton | Middlesex | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,943 |
3,364Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Bolton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| 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.