Compare towns
Wilder vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Mendon | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,113Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| Richmond and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Mendon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school 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.