What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middletown Springs	Richmond
People
Population	747Lowest	4,159Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT	43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average
	Middletown Springs and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Middletown Springs and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Middletown Springs and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	59.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.5Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Middletown Springs and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average	$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT
	Richmond and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT	$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$438 about the VT average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Lowest 9% below VT	$6,868Highest 36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	28.5%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Richmond and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 16% above VT	25 minLowest 6% above VT
Work from home	15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Richmond and Middletown Springs 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
School district	Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.