Compare towns
White River Junction vs Montpelier vs Calais
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Montpelier | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
8,014Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Montpelier and Calais 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% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Montpelier 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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 VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
53.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Calais 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.