Compare towns
Royalton vs Waterville 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 people working from home (17.8%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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.
| Measure | Royalton | Waterville | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
680Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Waterville and Sharon 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Royalton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Royalton 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675 7% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
4.9% 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 |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.