Compare towns
Nelson vs Royalton 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
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Nelson | Royalton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,752 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 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 | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.