Compare towns
Williston vs Appleton 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Williston | Appleton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 History | 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.