Compare towns
Williston vs Eliot vs Richmond vs Stowe
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 the most renters (24.9% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Eliot | Richmond | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
7,146 |
4,159Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Stowe 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Stowe 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.