Compare towns

Richmond vs Exeter 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.

MeasureRichmondExeterWilliston
People
Population
4,159
913Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6Lowest
12% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Exeter 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter 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
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39k
30% above U.S.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Richmond 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%
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Lowest
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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.