Compare towns
White River Junction vs Dummerston vs Wilder 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 the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Dummerston | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
2,090Lowest |
3,087 |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Dummerston and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Dummerston 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% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 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 |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.