Compare towns
Richmond vs Ripton vs Townshend 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 kids (21.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Ripton | Townshend | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 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%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below 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 | — | — | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.