Compare towns
White River Junction vs South Berwick vs Hartford 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%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | South Berwick | Hartford | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
7,670 |
10,736Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bellows Falls 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% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%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% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford 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 4% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Marshwood High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.