Compare towns
White River Junction vs Tunbridge vs Bethel
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%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Tunbridge | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Highest |
1,253Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and White River Junction 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Tunbridge 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% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Tunbridge and Bethel 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Bethel 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.