Compare towns
Richmond vs Barre vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Barre | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
8,412Highest |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Richmond and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Richmond and Barre 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Richmond 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 33% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
| Bolton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.