Compare towns
White River Junction vs Richmond vs Bethel
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%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Richmond | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,159Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Richmond 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Richmond and Bethel 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and White River Junction 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,168Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and White River Junction 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.