Compare towns
White River Junction vs Merrimack vs St. Albans
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Merrimack | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
28,164Highest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Merrimack 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and St. Albans 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% |
16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimack 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and St. Albans 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. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack 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 | — | #58 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Merrimack School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | Merrimack High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.