Compare towns

White River Junction vs Portsmouth 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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionPortsmouthWilder
People
Population
3,364
22,545Highest
3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Portsmouth 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%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Portsmouth 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
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Portsmouth 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.
$106,219±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651
81% above U.S.
$8,018Highest
157% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth 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%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
22 minHighest
16% below U.S.
17 min
37% below U.S.
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Portsmouth 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 — #11 of 120 in NH —
School district — Portsmouth School District —
High school in town — Portsmouth High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
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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.