Compare towns

Royalton vs Sunapee vs Sharon

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 people working from home (17.8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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.

MeasureRoyaltonSunapeeSharon
People
Population
2,752
3,416Highest
1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.9±10.1Lowest
13% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
45.6±7.7
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sharon 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
U.S.: 17.2%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee and Sharon 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%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
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.
$84,375±$17kLowest
5% 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±$51kHighest
18% above U.S.
$346,700±$37k
4% above U.S.
Sunapee and Sharon 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.
$1,386±$155
about the U.S. average
Sunapee and Sharon 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.
$5,903Highest
89% 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%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
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%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
63.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Royalton and Sharon 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 Sharon School District
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
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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.