What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilder	White River Junction
People
Population	3,087Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	+10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT
	Wilder and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%	12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT	$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT
	White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT	$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT
	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 7% below VT	$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average
	White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Lowest 9% above VT	$5,651Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 29% below VT	15 minLowest 35% below VT
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.