Compare towns
Royalton vs Williston vs Sharon vs Rockingham
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 youngest population (median age 43.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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 | Williston | Sharon | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
10,144Highest |
1,577Lowest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Sharon 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Rockingham 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Rockingham 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 | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sharon School District | Rockingham School District |
| 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 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.