Compare towns
Bethel vs Royalton vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Bethel | Royalton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
2,752 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Bethel and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | White River Unified School District #79 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| 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.