Compare towns

White River Junction vs Orleans vs St. Albans

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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionOrleansSt. Albans
People
Population
3,364
809Lowest
6,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
41.7±5.8Highest
3% below VT
38.7±2
10% below VT
Orleans 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
VT: 17.9%
17.9%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±3.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. Albans and Orleans 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%
13.9%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
24.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
31.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.6
VT: 7%
Orleans 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±$4kHighest
5% below VT
$57,159±$10kLowest
30% below VT
$57,980±$7k
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78kHighest
12% below VT
$156,300±$18kLowest
51% below VT
$263,400±$18k
17% below VT
White River Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
$810±$94Lowest
34% below VT
$1,150±$78
7% below VT
White River Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651Highest
12% above VT
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
$4,436
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.8%±11.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
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%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
64.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
49%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
13 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
31 minHighest
33% above VT
23 min
4% below VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
White River Junction and St. Albans 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 — — #46 of 70 in VT
School district — — Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town — — Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
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.