Compare towns
Wilder vs Thornton vs Royalton
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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Thornton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,799 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Royalton and Thornton 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%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Wilder 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% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.