Compare towns
Royalton vs Keene vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Keene | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
22,939Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethel and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$75,822±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
| Keene and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,168 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethel and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Keene School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.