Compare towns
Richmond vs Swanton 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 homeowners (78.8%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k 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 | Swanton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,670Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 33% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% 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 | — | $1,238±$103Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.