Compare towns
White River Junction vs Topsham vs Johnson
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 the shortest commute (15 min average).
Topsham has the most homeowners (78.9%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Topsham | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
9,706Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Topsham 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. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Topsham 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.