Compare towns
White River Junction vs Williston vs Barnard vs Wilder
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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Williston | Barnard | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
10,144Highest |
1,211Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Barnard 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.