What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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.

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

Measure	South Barre	White River Junction
People
Population	1,346Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT
Kids under 18	9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	12.5%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%	1.2%±1.1Highest VT: 7%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT	$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT
	South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT	$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT	$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average
	South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT	$5,651Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±40.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 36% below VT	15 minHighest 35% below VT
Work from home	16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9%	15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.