Compare towns
White River Junction vs Essex Junction vs St. Albans
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 shortest commute (15 min average).
Essex Junction has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Essex Junction | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
10,803Highest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
| Essex Junction 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Essex Junction 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
| Essex Junction 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 |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,150±$78Lowest 7% below VT |
| Essex Junction 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 12% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and St. Albans 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% |
9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
49% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Essex Junction 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | Essex High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.