Compare towns
Huntington vs Royalton vs Waitsfield vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Huntington has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Huntington | Royalton | Waitsfield | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,853Lowest |
2,752 |
1,918 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.6±4.9Highest 10% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Huntington and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Huntington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $94,497±$3k 16% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Royalton and Huntington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,300±$28k 7% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Huntington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$511Lowest 20% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,570 11% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±14Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.