Compare towns
White River Junction vs Nelson vs Bellows Falls
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
648Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Bellows Falls 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Bellows Falls 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 16% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.