Compare towns
Royalton vs Wilder vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($263k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Williston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
3,087 |
10,144Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% 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 |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Williston and Royalton 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,592 11% above 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% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.