Compare towns
Wilder vs Essex 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%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Essex | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
11,516Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Wilder and Essex 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% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Essex 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% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Essex and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and White River Junction 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% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex and White River Junction 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.