Compare towns
Richmond vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Topsham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
9,706 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above 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 | — | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.