Compare towns
Richmond vs Townsend vs Williston vs Ferrisburgh
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | Townsend | Williston | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
9,100 |
10,144Highest |
2,661Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Townsend 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 34% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22k 33% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Williston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,435±$173Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,120 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | North Middlesex | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.