Compare towns
Richmond vs Putney vs Calais 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 highest household income ($108k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Putney | Calais | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,622 |
1,713Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais 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% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% 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±$39k 37% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$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 | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.