Compare towns

Richmond vs Wells 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 people working from home (22.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k median).

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.

MeasureRichmondWellsFerrisburgh
People
Population
4,159
11,713Highest
2,661Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6Lowest
12% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
45.5±4.9
17% above U.S.
Wells and Ferrisburgh 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%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Richmond and Wells 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%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Ferrisburgh 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.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$106,989±$22k
33% above U.S.
Richmond and Ferrisburgh 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.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
$422,700±$35kLowest
27% above U.S.
Wells and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,435±$173Highest
about the U.S. average
Ferrisburgh and Wells 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.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$6,120
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±19.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ferrisburgh and Wells 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%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Richmond and Wells 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 #22 of 133 in ME #7 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Wells-Ogunquit CSD Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
High school in town None in town Wells High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
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.