Compare towns
White River Junction vs Richmond 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).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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 | Richmond | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,159Highest |
3,087 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Wilder 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls 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% 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% |
2.8%±1.7 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
— | $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 |
$6,868Highest 36% 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% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
4.2%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% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer 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 |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.