Compare towns

Wilder vs Bedford 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%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).

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.

MeasureWilderBedfordRoyalton
People
Population
3,087
23,746Highest
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
43.9±10.1Lowest
13% above U.S.
Wilder and Bedford 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%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Bedford 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%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Lowest
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.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$103,938±$24k
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505
76% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford 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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford 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 — #7 of 120 in NH #48 of 70 in VT
School district — Bedford School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town — Bedford High School White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.