Compare towns
Johnson vs Topsham vs White River Junction
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).
Topsham has the most homeowners (78.9%).
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.
| Measure | Johnson | Topsham | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
9,706Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Topsham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Topsham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and White River Junction 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.