Compare towns
Wilder vs Essex 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
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Essex Junction | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
10,803Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Richmond 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 VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction 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 VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| Richmond and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
— |
| Essex Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Essex Junction 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | — | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.