Compare towns
White River Junction vs Chester vs Bellows Falls
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).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Chester | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
5,300Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Chester 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% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Chester 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. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Bellows Falls 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. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.