Compare towns

White River Junction vs Brookfield vs Royalton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionBrookfieldRoyalton
People
Population
3,364Highest
1,486Lowest
2,752
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
47±5.9Highest
9% above VT
43.9±10.1
about the VT average
Brookfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±5
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
8%±4.2Highest
VT: 7%
Royalton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4kLowest
5% below VT
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
$103,938±$24kHighest
28% above VT
Royalton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78k
12% below VT
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$263,200±$73kLowest
17% below VT
Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,040±$391
16% below VT
White River Junction and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651Highest
12% above VT
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$4,675
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
36.7%±16.1
VT: 48.4%
White River Junction and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
63.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1965
11 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
37 minHighest
55% above VT
20 min
13% below VT
Work from home
15.7%±5.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.8%±7.3
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield 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 — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 White River Unified School District #79
High school 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

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.