Compare towns
Richmond vs Dorset vs Ferrisburgh 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,092Lowest |
2,661 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
| Dorset 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±$39k 37% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$422,700±$35kLowest 34% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | 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.