Compare towns
Wilder vs Hanover vs Waterbury 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Waterbury | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
11,685Highest |
5,405 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% 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% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.