Compare towns
Richmond vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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 33% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Middlesex 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±$39k 37% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.