Compare towns
Richmond vs Amherst vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k 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 | Richmond | Amherst | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
11,861Highest |
2,661Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9 17% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ferrisburgh and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amherst and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,435±$173Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$6,120Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Richmond 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.