Compare towns

Richmond vs Unity 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).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

MeasureRichmondUnityWilliston
People
Population
4,159
1,375Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6Lowest
12% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
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%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
34% above U.S.
$87,500±$16kLowest
8% 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.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below 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 —
$1,625±$804Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Williston and Unity 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.
$5,394Lowest
73% 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%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Unity 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%
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Unity School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.