Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs South Burlington 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 affordable homes ($196k median).
South Burlington has the most expensive homes ($443k median).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | South Burlington | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
20,756Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
38.2±1.8 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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 |
$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 14% below VT |
18 min 25% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| South Burlington 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 | — | #12 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | South Burlington School District | — |
| High school in town | — | South Burlington High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| 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.