Compare towns
White River Junction vs Salem vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
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 | Salem | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
44,795Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Salem and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Salem | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.