Compare towns
Johnson vs Northfield 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
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
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 | Johnson | Northfield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
5,920Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
36.4±4.1Highest 16% below VT |
33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
| Northfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.