Compare towns
Richmond vs Waitsfield 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 highest household income ($108k).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,918Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Richmond and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Richmond and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%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 min 6% above VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| 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.