Compare towns
Richmond vs Auburn vs Williston
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 most affordable homes ($432k median).
Auburn has the highest household income ($153k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Auburn | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
6,119 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Williston 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. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Williston 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. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Richmond 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Auburn School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.