Compare towns
Richmond vs Manchester 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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Manchester | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
4,486 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Manchester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester 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 VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 33% above VT |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| 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±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Williston 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.