Compare towns
Richmond vs Dracut 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).
Dracut has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Dracut | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
32,574Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Dracut | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.