Compare towns
Wilder vs Swanzey 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%).
Swanzey has the most homeowners (71.7%).
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 | Swanzey | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
7,398Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Swanzey 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% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Swanzey 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. |
$81,595±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Swanzey and White River Junction 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. |
$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Swanzey 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. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Monadnock Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.