Compare towns

Wilder vs White River Junction vs Eliot

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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).

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.

MeasureWilderWhite River JunctionEliot
People
Population
3,087Lowest
3,364
7,146Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot 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%
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Eliot 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot 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%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505
76% above U.S.
$5,651Highest
81% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
37% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Eliot 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 — — #19 of 133 in ME
School district — — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town — — None in town
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.