Compare towns
Waterbury vs Richmond vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Richmond | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
4,159Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6Highest about the VT average |
42.4±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Essex 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kLowest 28% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
| Essex and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
| Essex and Waterbury 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 |
— | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
| Essex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Lowest 28% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest 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 | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.