Compare towns
Wilder vs Acton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Wilder | Acton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,721Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Acton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Royalton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Royalton 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.