Compare towns
Waterbury vs Bellows Falls vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
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 | Waterbury | Bellows Falls | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,891Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
| Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
— |
| Bellows Falls and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school 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.