Compare towns
White River Junction vs South Burlington 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 the shortest commute (15 min average).
South Burlington has the most expensive homes ($443k 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 | South Burlington | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
20,756Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.2±1.8 11% below VT |
41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and South Burlington 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 |
$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction 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% |
7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
18 min 25% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Burlington 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 | — | #12 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | South Burlington School District | — |
| High school in town | — | South Burlington High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| 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.