Compare towns
Wilder vs Windham vs Worcester vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Royalton 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 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±$9k 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Wilder 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.