Compare towns
White River Junction vs Salem vs Johnson
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 the shortest commute (15 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Salem | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
44,795Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and White River Junction 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% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 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. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% 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% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Johnson 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% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Salem | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | None in town |
| 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.