Compare towns
White River Junction vs Williston vs Cornish vs Bellows Falls
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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Williston | Cornish | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
10,144Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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 4% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Bellows Falls 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.