Compare towns
White River Junction vs Wilder vs Norwich
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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Wilder | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
| Wilder and Norwich 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
| Norwich and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
19 minHighest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Norwich School District |
| 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.