Compare towns
Richmond vs Manchester 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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 |
115,643Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Richmond 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above 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 | — | $1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.