Compare towns
Barnard vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
699Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Reading 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 20% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| 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 27% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 Our Story | 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.