Compare towns
Durham vs Richmond vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Richmond | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,159Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Durham and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.