Compare towns
Richmond vs Williston vs Sharon
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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Williston | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
10,144Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Richmond 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| 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 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sharon School District |
| 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.