Compare towns
Royalton vs Rockingham vs Tunbridge vs Bristol
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 highest household income ($104k).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k 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 | Rockingham | Tunbridge | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
4,807Highest |
1,253Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Rockingham 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% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Rockingham 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% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Rockingham 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 |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Royalton and Tunbridge 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 |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
| Bristol and Tunbridge 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 |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675 7% below VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Rockingham School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| 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.