Compare towns
Wilder vs Plainfield vs Bellows Falls 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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Plainfield | Bellows Falls | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,891 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Royalton 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.