Compare towns
Richmond vs Wells vs Ferrisburgh
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 most people working from home (22.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Wells | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,148Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Ferrisburgh 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 VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| 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±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| 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 36% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| 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 |
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.