Compare towns
Richmond vs Methuen 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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Methuen | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
53,475Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Methuen | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.