Compare towns
Wilder vs Swanton 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%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
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 | Swanton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
2,670Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Richmond 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Wilder 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 | — | — | #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.