Compare towns
White River Junction vs Barnet vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Barnet | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| White River Junction and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.