Small-town living along the White River in Royalton
Bucolic country landscapes, towering mountain ranges, weaving waterways and a quaint historic village center characterize Royalton, a small river town in eastern Vermont. This community of nearly 2,800 residents may seem like a hidden gem, but its landscapes have graced millions of screens across the globe during the opening credits of the popular T.V. series “Gilmore Girls.” Historic buildings and pointy white church towers stand in stark contrast against a backdrop of green rolling hills whose colors change with the seasons, while a small, walkable village center exudes New England charm with its historic buildings and community green spaces.
Interstate 89 runs through town, connecting Royalton residents to Woodstock, Lebanon and Dartmouth. The White River School District, which serves students throughout Royalton and the neighboring town of Bethel, is one of the few districts in the state with increasing student enrollment numbers, highlighting the town's continued popularity and growth as a more affordable option than Woodstock and Lebanon. "One of my favorite things about this area is the school district," says Kate Jarvis, Realtor with Williamson Group Sotheby's International Realty and Bethel local. "There's a loving, supportive community and great arts and athletics programs." Although Bethel and Royalton are zoned for the same district, Jarvis notes they are quite different.
Bethel's village center sits along a ridgeline, offering weaving mountain roads and steep drops that lead to the White River. Royalton's village center sits on flat land adjacent to the river, offering a more traditional rectangular, walkable community. Apart from its well-regarded school district and low CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, Royalton is best known as the home of Vermont Law School. "It's all post-graduate students, so it's not like a typical college town," Jarvis says. "But the students greatly contribute to Royalton's thriving small business scene."
Rural and small-town living
South Royalton's architecture ranges from pre-Civil War Gothic and Greek Revival farmhouses to post-war Italianate designs with shallow-pitched roofs and ornate detailing. Federal-style homes, Queen Annes and 20th-century ramblers are scattered in between. Country roads give way to secluded log cabins and custom-built retreats outside the village. Sales prices here usually range from the mid-$200,000s to the upper-$400,000s. A handful of properties can fall outside of that range, depending on acreage, location and condition. Clusters of manufactured homes are priced from the upper-$100,000s to the mid-$200,000s. Plots of land are also available, ranging from $50,000 to nearly $215,000.
The White River Supervisory Union
The White River Supervisory Union oversees the White River Unified School District, which garners a B-minus rating from Niche. Pre-kindergarteners through fifth graders may attend South Royalton Elementary School, which scores a B-minus. "The cool thing about Vermont is that it offers free preschool," Jarvis says. "So, as soon as your child turns three, you can enroll them in the public school district." White River Valley Middle School earns a C-minus, and White River Valley High School garners a B-minus.
Royalton residents are also about 20 miles from Dartmouth College, a private Ivy League school across the border in New Hampshire. Known for its engineering, business and medical programs, the college oversees the nearby Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the only teaching hospital in New Hampshire.
South Royalton's commercial hub and nearby amenities
Three small villages make up the town, including North Royalton, Royalton and South Royalton. Tucked between the White River and the railroad tracks, South Royalton is the principal commercial hub of the town. The South Royalton Historic District, which was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, developed alongside the Vermont Central Railroad depot. Today, a compact village center with several shops and restaurants forms a rectangle around a central green space. Along Chelsea Street, local establishments include a post office, a hair salon, a coffee shop, a delicatessen and a cozy Mexican cantina.
However, some of Royalton's most popular establishments sit just beyond the railroad tracks. Worthy Burger is a well-known hole-in-the-wall hidden within an old freight house. "Everyone talks about Worthy Burger," Jarvis says. "They source their ingredients locally, and you can build your own burger." Next door, Crossroads Bar and Grill is another favorite known for its trivia nights and live music. "Everything is homemade," Jarvis says; the menu includes house-made sauces ranging from gravy to garlic aioli. About 20 miles away, Woodstock brims with fine-dining restaurants and quaint boutiques.
The South Royalton Market Food Cooperative caters to everyday needs. Surrounding rural roads weave past family-owned farms that sell organic eggs, meat and vegetables. Additional restaurants and big-box retailers are about 25 miles away in Lebanon.
Parks, forests, resorts and rivers
The Town Green anchors the village of South Royalton. A lush open lawn features a gazebo, picnic areas and a small, shaded stage that hosts local bands on Thursday evenings throughout the summer. Down the road, Carpenter Field and Playground features two baseball fields, a soccer field and a playground. Dirt and gravel trails border the fields, offering direct access to the White River.
Down the road, Paine's Beach welcomes sunbathers, swimmers and picnickers along the White River's banks. Additional public access spots are scattered along the river, attracting kayakers paddleboarders and tubers. RV and traditional campgrounds are spread across town, attracting a mix of locals and summer tourists.
Surrounding woodlands feature hidden walking trails, while the Royalton Town Forest is accessible via a dirt road off Vermont State Route 107. Adventurous hikers can also make their way up to Kent's Ledge, a mountain peak that offers panoramic views of the village and surrounding ranges. However, many of Royalton's trails are unmarked. To reach Kent's Ledge, residents must follow a dirt road near Crossroads Bar and Grill before passing through a tunnel underneath Interstate 89.
Many of Royalton's trails are closed to non-motorized vehicles, but popular winter pastimes still include snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Residents are also 30 miles from Killington Resort. Nicknamed the "Beast of the East," Killington is the largest resort on the East Coast and boasts 22 lifts and 155 downhill trails, along with a lively après ski culture, as well as an assortment of summer activities, including hiking, kayaking and golfing, among others.
Joseph Smith’s birthplace
Royalton is home to the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial. Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), was born in the neighboring town of Sharon. However, the memorial sits within Royalton's town lines. The memorial is down the road from a local LDS church and campgrounds that cater to out-of-town visitors.
Commutes around Royalton
Tri-Valley Transit services the area, stopping in the village and North Royalton. However, many residents still rely on personal vehicles to get around. Randolph is home to both the nearest Amtrak station and Gifford Medical Center, less than 15 miles away. Alternatively, Lebanon's Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital and the highly regarded Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center are about 30 miles away. Local roads include Vermont State routes 14, 107 and 110, and Burlington International Airport is about 70 miles northwest via Interstate 89.
