Compare towns
Ashland vs Bellows Falls 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
Ashland has the most homeowners (64.1%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Ashland | Bellows Falls | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,891 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 32% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | — |
| 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.