Compare towns
White River Junction vs Peru 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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Wilder has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
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 | Peru | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
434Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Peru 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% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Peru 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% 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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.