What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has the highest household income ($77k).

Waterbury has the most people working from home (23%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	White River Junction	Waterbury
People
Population	3,364Highest	1,753Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT	39.6±4.3Highest 8% below VT
	Waterbury and White River Junction 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%	22.2%±7.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waterbury 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%	20.4%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waterbury and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Highest VT: 7%	0%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%
	White River Junction and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT	$54,273±$13kLowest 33% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT	$375,400±$57kHighest 19% above VT
	Waterbury 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	$866±$497Lowest 30% below VT
	White River Junction and Waterbury 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	$5,446Lowest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%	36.3%±21.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	13.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	41.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT	1964Highest 12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 35% below VT	26 minHighest 9% above VT
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	23%±9.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waterbury 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	—	#20 of 70 in VT
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.