Compare towns
Royalton vs Strafford vs Wilder
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 most people working from home (17.8%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Strafford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
1,372Lowest |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford 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±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.