Compare towns

White River Junction vs Barnard vs Wilder

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionBarnardWilder
People
Population
3,364Highest
1,211Lowest
3,087
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
42.4±6
about the VT average
45.5±8.9Highest
6% above VT
Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±5
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%
VT: 43.8%
60.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
Wilder and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4k
5% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below VT
Barnard 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
$278,800±$78k
12% below VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$273,200±$18kLowest
14% below VT
Barnard and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216
about the VT average
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$1,142±$451Lowest
7% below VT
Barnard and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651
12% above VT
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$5,505Lowest
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
39.9%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
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
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
62.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
29 minHighest
21% above VT
17 min
29% below VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Barnard and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.