Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Wilder vs St. Albans
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 people working from home (15.7%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Sunapee | Wilder | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,416 |
3,087Lowest |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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 14% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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 81% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49% 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. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.