Compare towns

Wilder vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).

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.

MeasureWilderWestminsterRichmond
People
Population
3,087
2,999Lowest
4,159Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.5±8.9
6% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
43.7±5.6Lowest
about the VT average
Westminster 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%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Richmond and Westminster 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster 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%
46.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Wilder and Westminster 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
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
14% below VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
$432,200±$39kHighest
37% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Highest
7% below VT
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
—
Wilder and Westminster 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
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Westminster 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%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
29% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
6% above VT
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
Westminster 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 — #53 of 70 in VT #5 of 70 in VT
School district — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town — Bellows Falls Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
—
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.