What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	White River Junction	South Barre
People
Population	3,364Highest	1,346Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT	52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.5%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Highest VT: 7%	0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT	$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT
	South Barre 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±$78kHighest 12% below VT	$257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average	$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT
	South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Highest 12% above VT	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%	36.1%±40.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	82.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT	1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minHighest 35% below VT	15 minLowest 36% below VT
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.