Compare towns
Nelson 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
3,364Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Nelson 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Nelson and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Nelson 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 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 | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson 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.