Compare towns
Stowe vs Williston vs Richmond vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Stowe | Williston | Richmond | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
10,144Highest |
4,159 |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% 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 | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% 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 | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.