Compare towns
Richmond vs Essex 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 homeowners (78.8%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Essex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
11,516Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Essex 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% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Richmond 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
| Essex 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 37% above VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Lowest 27% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Essex 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 |
$6,602 31% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Essex 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% |
5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.