Compare towns
Wilder vs Barnard vs White River Junction vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Barnard | White River Junction | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,211Lowest |
3,364 |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 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+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Richmond 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 VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| Richmond and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
— |
| Barnard and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | — | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.