Compare towns
Johnson vs Bellows Falls vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Bellows Falls has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Johnson | Bellows Falls | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
2,891Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5 21% below U.S. |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.