Compare towns
Wilder vs Salem vs White River Junction
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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Salem | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
30,964Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and White River Junction 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and White River Junction 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.