Compare towns
Wilder vs Ashland 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%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Wilder | Ashland | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton 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% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Royalton 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% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland 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% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Ashland 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. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Ashland 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% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton and Wilder 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Ashland School District | 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 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.