Compare towns
Royalton vs Bethel vs Vergennes
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
Vergennes has the most expensive homes ($310k 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.
| Measure | Royalton | Bethel | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
1,736Lowest |
2,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
46.6±2.1 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Vergennes 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% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vergennes and Royalton 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% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Vergennes 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 |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
| Royalton and Vergennes 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 |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$310,000±$24kHighest about the VT average |
| Vergennes and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
| Bethel and Royalton 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 |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$5,578Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Vergennes 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Vergennes 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 | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | White River Unified School District #79 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.