Compare towns
Richmond vs Calais vs Elmore
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k 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 | Calais | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,713 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Elmore and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais 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 VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$98,750±$24kLowest 22% above VT |
| Richmond and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
| Richmond and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,225±$263Lowest about the VT average |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,066Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Elmore 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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 |
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.