Compare towns

Richmond vs Dummerston vs Waterbury vs Ferrisburgh

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 highest household income ($108k).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).

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.

MeasureRichmondDummerstonWaterburyFerrisburgh
People
Population
4,159
2,090Lowest
5,405Highest
2,661
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
45.5±4.9
6% above VT
Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Ferrisburgh 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%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.8
VT: 7%
Waterbury 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±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$101,696±$21kLowest
25% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above VT
$106,989±$22k
32% above VT
Richmond and Ferrisburgh 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
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$422,700±$35k
34% above VT
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Dummerston 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
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$6,435
28% above VT
$6,120
21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ferrisburgh and Waterbury 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%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
7.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury and Dummerston 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 — #20 of 70 in VT #7 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
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.