Compare towns
North Bennington vs Walden vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | North Bennington | Walden | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,336 |
1,037Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Walden and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Royalton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| North Bennington and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| North Bennington and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.