Compare towns
Richmond vs Williston vs Stowe 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
East Montpelier has the most affordable homes ($379k 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 | Stowe | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
10,144Highest |
5,285 |
2,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
| East Montpelier and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$92,778±$21kLowest 14% 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$378,700±$32kLowest 20% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,187±$131Lowest 4% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,868 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.