Compare towns
Barnard vs Northbridge 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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Barnard | Northbridge | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
16,458Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton and Barnard 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northbridge | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.