Compare towns
Royalton vs Thornton vs Windsor
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 highest household income ($104k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Lowest |
2,799 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Royalton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Thornton 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 |
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.