Compare towns
White River Junction vs Rochester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% 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.
| Measure | White River Junction | Rochester | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Rochester and Bellows Falls 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| White River Junction and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| White River Junction and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| White River Junction and Bellows Falls 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school 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.