Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs White River Junction vs Waterbury
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | White River Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
3,364 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
| Waterbury 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| White River Junction and Bellows Falls 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Bellows Falls 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.