Compare towns
Barnard vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
207,055Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Barnard 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% 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. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Barnard 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. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
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.