Compare towns
Richmond vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs East Montpelier
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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
East Montpelier has the most homeowners (82.2%).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | White River Junction | Wilder | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
2,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
| East Montpelier and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and East Montpelier 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%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and East Montpelier 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
| Richmond and East Montpelier 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±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
| Richmond and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,187±$131 4% below VT |
| White River Junction and East Montpelier 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,868 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and East Montpelier 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 | — | — | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.