Compare towns
Richmond vs Strafford vs Wilder
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 people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Strafford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,372Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford 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±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.