Compare towns

Wilder vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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.

MeasureWilderStraffordWhite River Junction
People
Population
3,087Lowest
4,306Highest
3,364
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Highest
19% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
Strafford 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%
17.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and White River Junction 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%
19.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Strafford 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%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Strafford 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.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
Strafford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
37% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford 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 — #73 of 120 in NH —
School district — Strafford School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.