South Royalton in 1870s, 1870
South Royalton’s story
176 years in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1870 and a map from 1981 on.
- 1850South Royalton is settled
South RoyaltonVT
Photo: Anthony Quintano · CC BY 2.0
Population
458
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$210K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
29.5
years
Jobs based here
436
Balanced
Is South Royalton a good place to live?
33% of residents live below the poverty line in South Royalton, above both the Vermont town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 72 in Vermont we compare has a lower share of households owning their home than South Royalton. South Royalton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes South Royalton stand out
Where South Royalton beats most towns.
Small town
458 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to South Royalton: who provides what
South Royalton is unincorporated, so Windsor County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerGreen Mountain Power23.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRoyalton Fire District 11 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWindsor CountyWindsor County provides services here
SchoolsWhite River Unified School DistrictWhite River Valley Supervisory Union2 districts serve South Royalton; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Vermont you can register online up to and including Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received by Election Day).vote.govWho runs elections hereRoyalton Town ClerkTown of Royalton; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code0506805068 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in South Royalton.
Climate
In South Royalton, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
South Royalton’s peak summer temperature is 81°F.
81″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–32°
Spring30–55°
Summer54–79°
Fall37–59°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
The average trip to work in South Royalton is shorter than in most of Vermont or the rest of the country
For half of commuters, work is under 17 miles away. Among 72 Vermont towns, just 2 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than South Royalton. This Vermont town had 436 jobs in 2023, up 28 from 2013. The top destinations are Royalton (17%), Lebanon (12%) and Hartford (10%).
6%work in town
| South Royalton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 16% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In South Royalton6%
Royalton17%
Lebanon12%
Hartford10%
Randolph7%
17 mi
median commute distance
436
jobs based in South Royalton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
A smaller share of adults in South Royalton had a checkup this year than in the typical Vermont or U.S. town
Only 2 of the 72 Vermont towns we compare have a higher share of adults who worry about having enough food than South Royalton. 27% of adults have high blood pressure in the town. CDC measures, 31 in all: South Royalton beats Vermont on 5 and trails on 10.
| South Royalton | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 69% | 76% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 27% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 32% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7.7% | 9.1% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Vermont
5 better16 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | South Royalton | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.4% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.1% | 6.3% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 12.8% | 9.2% |
Gifford Medical Center
10.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
South Royalton has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
The FEMA hazard score in South Royalton is 51 of 100. FEMA puts 77% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 6% to cold waves.
51risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
$287Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in September
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 59 attractions →Killington Resort and 25 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around South Royalton. Close and well known come first.
20 mi Ski areaKillington Resort184 runs · 3,031 ft vertical
31 mi Ski areaSugarbush Resort142 runs · 2,569 ft vertical
29 mi Ski areaOkemo Mountain119 runs · 2,165 ft vertical
29 mi National forestGreen Mountain National Forest
10 mi Ski areaSaskadena Six38 runs · 618 ft vertical
34 mi Ski areaMad River Glen77 runs · 1,998 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Killington Resort: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sugarbush Resort: Mrtrek1701 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Okemo Mountain: Jrclark (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Green Mountain National Forest: Brian W. Schaller, FAL · Saskadena Six: Jared C. Benedict, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mad River Glen: Jrclark (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about South Royalton
16pages on South Royalton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of South Royalton
Vermont Law and Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · South Royalton1.1 miVermont State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Randolph10.2 mi$11,952 in-state tuitionDartmouth CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Hanover, NH13.2 mi$68,268 tuition
College town 25 of every 100 South Royalton residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
About South Royalton
Census-designated place in the US
South Royalton is an unincorporated village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, South Royalton had a population of 654. South Royalton is the largest community in the town. It is home to the Vermont Law School. The central portion of the village is a historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the South Royalton Historic District. The Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial is located approximately two miles to the east. South Royalton is the town pictured in the opening credits of the WB television show Gilmore Girls.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 490 ft
- ZIP code
- 05068
Questions about South Royalton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is South Royalton, VT a good place to live?
South Royalton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.