Compare towns
Wilder vs Royalton vs Huntington vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Huntington has the most homeowners (80%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Royalton | Huntington | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,752 |
1,853Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
47.6±4.9Highest 10% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Huntington 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Huntington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.5%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
56.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$94,497±$3k 16% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$338,300±$28k 7% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$986±$511Lowest 20% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,570 11% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.9%±14Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
80%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.