Compare towns
Royalton vs Wilder vs Sharon vs North Bennington
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%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
North Bennington has the most renters (38.6% rent).
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 | Sharon | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
3,087Highest |
1,577 |
1,336Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| Sharon and Wilder 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Wilder 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% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below 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±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
| Sharon and North Bennington 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 |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Sharon 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and North Bennington 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 | — | Sharon 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 | 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.