Compare towns
Barnard vs Alstead vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Barnard | Alstead | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,551 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Royalton 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.