Compare towns
White River Junction vs Wilder vs Wells
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%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k 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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and Wilder 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.