Compare towns
Wilder vs Chester vs Royalton
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%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Chester | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,992 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Royalton and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| 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 7% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.