Compare towns
Sharon vs Nelson vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Sharon | Nelson | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
648Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | Sharon School District | Nelson School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.