Compare towns
Wilder vs Bridgewater vs Castleton vs White River Junction
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%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
980Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bridgewater 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Wilder 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% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| 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 7% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| 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 9% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.