Compare towns
Bethel vs White River Junction vs Shoreham
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 most affordable homes ($238k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | White River Junction | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736 |
3,364Highest |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Shoreham 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham 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 | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,713Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.