Compare towns
White River Junction vs Reading vs Wilder vs Bellows Falls
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 the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Reading | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
699Lowest |
3,087 |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Reading and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading 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 12% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Reading 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 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bellows Falls 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.