Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Norwich vs White River Junction vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
White River Junction has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Norwich | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
3,640Highest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Norwich and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 14% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.