Compare towns
White River Junction vs Waterbury vs South Berwick
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%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
5,405 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Waterbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterbury and South Berwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick 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±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and South Berwick 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.