Compare towns
Williston vs Lyme vs Stowe 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 the most renters (24.9% rent).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,285 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest 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. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% 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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Richmond 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme 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. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% 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% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stowe 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 | Lyme School District | Stowe Town School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| 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.