Compare towns

Wilder vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).

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.

MeasureWilderMeredithRoyalton
People
Population
3,087
6,758Highest
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
43.9±10.1Lowest
13% above U.S.
Meredith and Wilder 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%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Royalton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Wilder 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%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±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.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
Royalton and Meredith 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.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Meredith and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505Highest
76% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Wilder 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH #48 of 70 in VT
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.