Compare towns
Wilder vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
27,793Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.