Compare towns
Bolton vs Richmond vs Williston vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Bolton | Richmond | Williston | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
| Bolton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Bolton 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.