Compare towns
Lancaster 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
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Lancaster | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
3,364Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.