Compare towns
Williston vs Lyme vs Bow 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%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Richmond has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Williston | Lyme | Bow | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.