Compare towns
White River Junction vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | White River Junction | Castleton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,453Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| 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 | $278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| 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 | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| 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 | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 minHighest 17% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.