Compare towns
White River Junction vs Richmond vs Royalton 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 renters (56.1% rent).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Richmond | Royalton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,159Highest |
2,752Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Richmond and Royalton 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Royalton 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.