Compare towns
White River Junction vs Portsmouth vs Wilder vs Johnson
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Portsmouth | Wilder | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
22,545Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest 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%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest 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% |
58.4% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.