Compare towns
White River Junction vs Waterbury vs Johnson
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Waterbury | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
5,405Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% 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 | $5,651 12% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.