Compare towns
Wilder vs Appleton vs White River Junction
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%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Appleton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,360Lowest |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Appleton 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% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Appleton 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% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Appleton 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.