Compare towns

Richmond vs Stowe vs Williston vs Ferrisburgh

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).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Ferrisburgh has the most homeowners (85.3%).

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.

MeasureRichmondStoweWillistonFerrisburgh
People
Population
4,159
5,285
10,144Highest
2,661Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6Lowest
about the VT average
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
45.5±4.9
6% above VT
Stowe and Ferrisburgh 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%
22.5%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Stowe and Richmond 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%
25.8%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Stowe and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
66.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.8
VT: 7%
Williston and Ferrisburgh 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
33% above VT
$93,618±$33kLowest
15% above VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
$106,989±$22k
32% above VT
Richmond and Ferrisburgh 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
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
$422,700±$35kLowest
34% above VT
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,458±$242
18% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,435±$173Lowest
16% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868
36% above VT
$7,161Highest
42% above VT
$5,592Lowest
11% above VT
$6,120
21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ferrisburgh 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%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
19 minLowest
18% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Stowe 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 #7 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Stowe Town School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
High school in town None in town Stowe High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
— —
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.