Compare towns
Richmond vs Lancaster vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($108k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Lancaster | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
3,216Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Stowe 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White Mountains Regional School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.