Compare towns
Royalton vs Barnard vs Bethel vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Royalton | Barnard | Bethel | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,736 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Bethel and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town | 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.