Compare towns
East Montpelier vs Richmond vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Montpelier has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | East Montpelier | Richmond | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,612Lowest |
4,159Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| East Montpelier and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Richmond and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Richmond and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,187±$131Highest 4% below VT |
— | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| East Montpelier and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,868 16% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.2%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and East Montpelier 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 | #15 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | U-32 Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.