Compare towns
Royalton vs Waitsfield vs Sharon
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 affordable homes ($263k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Waitsfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
1,918 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Sharon 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Royalton and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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 16% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | 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.