Compare towns
Stow vs White River Junction vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Stow | White River Junction | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
3,364Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$3,690 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 History | 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.