Compare towns
Bethel vs Richmond 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
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k 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 | Bethel | Richmond | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
4,159Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bethel and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Richmond and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
| Bethel and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Lowest about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.