Compare towns
Wilder vs Eliot vs Williston vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Eliot | Williston | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
7,146 |
10,144Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 | 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.