Compare towns
White River Junction vs Dracut 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
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
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 | Dracut | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
32,574Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dracut 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 4% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dracut | — |
| High school in town | — | Dracut Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.