Compare towns
Royalton vs Wilder vs Castleton vs Barnard
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 highest household income ($104k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k 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 | Wilder | Castleton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
3,087 |
4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 | 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.