Compare towns
Wilder vs Dover vs Portsmouth 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%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.
| Measure | Wilder | Dover | Portsmouth | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
33,364Highest |
22,545 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%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% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.4 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.