Compare towns
Milton vs Richmond vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most affordable homes ($373k median).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Milton | Richmond | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
4,159Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
| Milton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% 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 | $1,536±$257Lowest 24% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 11% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.