Compare towns
Royalton vs Richmond vs White River Junction vs Bethel
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Richmond | White River Junction | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
4,159Highest |
3,364 |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| 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%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and White River Junction 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% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 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 | $103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% 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 | $263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
— | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and White River Junction 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and White River Junction 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | 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.