Compare towns
White River Junction vs St. Albans vs Johnson vs Hartford
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%).
St. Albans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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 | St. Albans | Johnson | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
6,954 |
3,450 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and St. Albans 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% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
| Hartford 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 12% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 |
$4,436 12% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Johnson 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
49% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Hartford 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 | — | #46 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.