Compare towns
Richmond vs Royalton vs Sharon vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Richmond | Royalton | Sharon | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
2,752 |
1,577Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Richmond and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Sharon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District | — |
| 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 | 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.