Compare towns
White River Junction vs Wilder vs Bolton
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bolton has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wilder | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
3,087 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Bolton 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average |
| Bolton 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 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
| Bolton 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 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.