Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Royalton vs White River Junction

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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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.

MeasureBellows FallsRoyaltonWhite River Junction
People
Population
2,891
2,752Lowest
3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7
4% below VT
43.9±10.1Highest
about the VT average
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
Royalton 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%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±5
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bellows Falls and Royalton 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%
42.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
8%±4.2
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and Royalton 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
$103,938±$24kHighest
28% above VT
$77,168±$4k
5% below VT
Royalton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
38% below VT
$263,200±$73k
17% below VT
$278,800±$78kHighest
12% below VT
White River Junction and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Lowest
16% below VT
$1,040±$391
16% below VT
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
White River Junction and Royalton 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
$4,675
7% below VT
$5,651Highest
12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±17.3
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%
13%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%
VT: 73.2%
63.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1965Highest
11 yrs older than VT
1963
13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
20 minHighest
13% below VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.8%±7.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Royalton 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 — #48 of 70 in VT —
School district — White River Unified School District #79 —
High school 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

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.