Compare towns
Richmond vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Williston
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Richmond | Castleton | Brookfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Brookfield and Williston 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% 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 | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.