Compare towns
Richmond vs Lebanon vs Waterbury 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 homeowners (78.8%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Lebanon | Waterbury | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
14,999Highest |
5,405 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7 11% 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Williston 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Waterbury 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lebanon School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.