Compare towns
Royalton vs Williston vs Cornish vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Williston | Cornish | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
10,144Highest |
1,816 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 21% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Cornish School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.