Compare towns
Richmond vs Dorset vs Bow 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).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dorset | Bow | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,092Lowest |
8,335 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bow 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. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bow 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. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Bow School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.