Compare towns
Waterbury vs White River Junction 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 the most people working from home (28.3%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,364Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Waterbury and Richmond 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 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±$23k 28% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
— |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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.