Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Richmond vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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.
| Measure | Williston | Castleton | Richmond | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,453 |
4,159Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.