Compare towns

Richmond vs Windham vs Williston vs Waterbury

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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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.

MeasureRichmondWindhamWillistonWaterbury
People
Population
4,159Lowest
16,038Highest
10,144
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Waterbury 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Waterbury 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Windham 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
34% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$103,917±$23kLowest
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$447,200±$40k
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868
120% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$6,435
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waterbury 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 #13 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT #20 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Windham School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
— —
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.