Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Barre
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%).
Sunapee has the most homeowners (75.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Sunapee | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
3,416 |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Barre 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and 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±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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 81% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Barre 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.