Compare towns
Williston vs Royalton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Williston | Royalton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,752 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.