Compare towns
White River Junction vs Shelburne 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%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k 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 | Shelburne | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
7,969Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Shelburne 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%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Shelburne and White River Junction 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.