Compare towns
White River Junction vs Ashland vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | White River Junction | Ashland | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,183Lowest |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29k 32% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest 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 | 12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Ashland 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 | — | Ashland School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.