Compare towns
White River Junction vs Wilder vs Plainfield vs Lebanon
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,087 |
2,522Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lebanon 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Lebanon 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.