Compare towns

White River Junction vs Bennington vs Stowe

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 most renters (56.1% rent).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionBenningtonStowe
People
Population
3,364Lowest
15,249Highest
5,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
Stowe and Bennington 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%
17.7%±2.3
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stowe and Bennington 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%
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Stowe and Bennington 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%
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
66.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4k
5% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$93,618±$33kHighest
15% above VT
Stowe and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78k
12% below VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216
about the VT average
$1,133±$63Lowest
8% below VT
$1,458±$242Highest
18% above VT
Stowe and White River Junction 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
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$7,161Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
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%
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%
VT: 73.2%
78.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
13 yrs older than VT
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
17 min
27% below VT
19 minHighest
18% below VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Stowe 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 —
School district — Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Stowe Town School District
High school in town — Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7Highest
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.