Compare towns
White River Junction vs Bennington vs Lebanon
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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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.
| Measure | White River Junction | Bennington | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
15,249Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and White River Junction 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. |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 42% below U.S. |
17 minHighest 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.