What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Montpelier	Royalton
People
Population	8,014Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average	43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average
	Royalton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%	14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Montpelier and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Montpelier and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	8%±4.2Highest VT: 7%
	Royalton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average	$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT
	Royalton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT	$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT	$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT
	Montpelier and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 38% above VT	$4,675Lowest 7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%	36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Montpelier and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	13%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	63.5%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1965Highest 11 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 23% below VT	20 minHighest 13% below VT
Work from home	26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Montpelier 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	#9 of 70 in VT	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Montpelier High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.