What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orleans has the most homeowners (64.1%).

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	Orleans
People
Population	3,364Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT	41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT
	Orleans and White River Junction 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%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans 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 VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Highest 12% above VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and Orleans 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%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 35% below VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	White River Junction and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.