Compare towns
Royalton vs Sunapee vs Barnard
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 the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Sunapee | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
3,416Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Sunapee 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 29% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675 50% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalton and Sunapee 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Sunapee School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.