Compare towns
White River Junction vs Barton vs Bellows Falls vs Wilder
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 the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Bellows Falls has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Barton | Bellows Falls | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
730Lowest |
2,891 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls 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% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
25.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.