Compare towns
Eliot vs Royalton vs White River Junction 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
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | Eliot | Royalton | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,752Lowest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | White River Unified School District #79 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.