Popularity won't solve your problem. Stop using this word.
If still you really want to use React or you just don't have another choice, then, NO, don't complicate things even more. State management actually already is an M in MVC, for routing/controllers you can find couple of good libraries like Page.js or Navigo. The last one is in ES6 already.
If you have choice - use Vanilla JS since React doesn't gives you anything. You will get maximum flexibility, simplicity, control, less CPU usage and speed.