Compare towns
Johnson vs Orleans 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Orleans | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
809Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
| Orleans 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% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62k 46% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 34% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Johnson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | — |
| High school 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.