Compare towns
Barnard vs Guildhall vs Ripton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Guildhall | Ripton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
371Lowest |
508 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guildhall 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| 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 20% above VT |
$4,625Lowest 8% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.