Compare towns
Wilder vs Dover vs Royalton vs Waterbury
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Royalton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
33,364Highest |
2,752Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Dover 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% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% 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% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Waterbury 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. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Waterbury 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dover School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
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.