Compare towns
Barnard vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,372 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Strafford 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 20% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Strafford 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 27% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Strafford 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 11% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford 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 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.