Compare towns

White River Junction vs Bow vs St. Albans 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 the shortest commute (15 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
St. Albans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionBowSt. AlbansJohnson
People
Population
3,364Lowest
8,335Highest
6,954
3,450
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
38.7±2
about the U.S. average
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
Bow and St. Albans 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%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±5
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Johnson 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%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and St. Albans 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%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$57,980±$7k
28% below U.S.
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
Bow 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
81% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,436
42% 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%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Johnson 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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow 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 — #26 of 120 in NH #46 of 70 in VT #57 of 70 in VT
School district — Bow School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town — Bow High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.