Compare towns
Wilder vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Waterbury | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,522Lowest |
5,405Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+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. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above 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±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 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. |
$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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%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. |
1977 3 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. |
22 min 17% 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% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Plainfield 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.