Compare towns
Richmond vs Wilder vs Dover vs Williston
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 homeowners (78.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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.
| Measure | Richmond | Wilder | Dover | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
3,087Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Williston 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Williston 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Dover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.