Compare towns
White River Junction vs Meredith vs Wilder vs Bellows Falls
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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
6,758Highest |
3,087 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Wilder 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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 16% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and White River Junction 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.