Compare towns
Royalton vs Williston vs Bethel
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 renters (36.5% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Williston | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
10,144Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Royalton 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below 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±$73k 17% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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.