Compare towns
White River Junction vs Thornton 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 renters (56.1% rent).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Thornton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Wilder 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% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Thornton 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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 16% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.