What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

Manchester has the most expensive homes ($366k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	White River Junction	Manchester
People
Population	3,364Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.	38±1Highest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Manchester and White River Junction 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%	15.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Manchester and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S.	$81,007±$2kHighest about the U.S. average
	Manchester 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±$78kLowest 16% below U.S.	$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S.	$5,922Highest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Manchester 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	48.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	White River Junction and Manchester 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	—	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	—	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
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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.