Compare towns

White River Junction vs Richmond vs Waterbury

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 homeowners (78.8%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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 JunctionRichmondWaterbury
People
Population
3,364Lowest
4,159
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
43.7±5.6Highest
about the VT average
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
Richmond and Waterbury 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%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Richmond 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%
19.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Waterbury 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8Highest
VT: 7%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4kLowest
5% below VT
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above VT
Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78kLowest
12% below VT
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
Waterbury and Richmond 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
—
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
White River Junction and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651Lowest
12% above VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$6,435
28% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Waterbury 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%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury and Richmond 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 #20 of 70 in VT
School district — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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.