Compare towns
White River Junction vs Bridgewater vs Mendon
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).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Bridgewater | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
980Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Mendon 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon 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 5% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon 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 about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
17 min 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.