Compare towns
Royalton vs White River Junction vs Waterbury
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | White River Junction | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Lowest |
3,364 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Royalton and Waterbury 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Waterbury 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Waterbury 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Waterbury 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| White River Junction and Royalton 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.