Compare towns
Wilder vs White River Junction vs Royalton vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k 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.
| Measure | Wilder | White River Junction | Royalton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
3,364 |
2,752Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Royalton 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| 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 | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | — | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.