Compare towns
Wilder vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Keene | Royalton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
22,939Highest |
2,752Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.5%±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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% 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% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Keene 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% |
10.1% 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% |
55.1%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. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 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. |
17 min 35% 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% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Royalton 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Keene School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
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.