Compare towns
White River Junction vs Castleton vs Richmond vs Bellows Falls
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | White River Junction | Castleton | Richmond | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,453Highest |
4,159 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Richmond 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%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Richmond 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Castleton 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| White River Junction and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.