Compare towns
Mendon vs Richmond vs Williston vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Mendon | Richmond | Williston | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.