Compare towns
White River Junction vs Royalton vs Hartford 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%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
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 | Royalton | Hartford | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,752Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Royalton and Hartford 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford 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% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Royalton 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 |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Royalton and Hartford 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Hartford 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | White River Valley High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.6Highest |
— |
| 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.