Compare towns
Wilder vs Sunapee vs White River Junction vs Waterbury
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Sunapee | White River Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
3,416 |
3,364 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Wilder 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.