What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most homeowners (78.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	White River Junction
People
Population	567Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±5.8Highest 3% below U.S.	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Jackson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22%	17.1%±5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,167±$19kLowest 7% below U.S.	$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S.
	White River Junction and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$16kLowest 30% below U.S.	$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S.
	White River Junction and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.	$5,651Highest 81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	White River Junction and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	White River Junction and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.