Compare towns
Richmond vs Salem 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 kids (21.5% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Salem | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,611Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest 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%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below 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 | — | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.