Compare towns
Richmond vs White River Junction vs Sharon vs Bolton
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Bolton has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | White River Junction | Sharon | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
3,364 |
1,577 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
| Sharon and Richmond 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Richmond 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Richmond and Bolton 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 33% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton 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±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Bolton 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Richmond 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Richmond 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 | — | Sharon School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 | 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.