Compare towns
Williston vs Meredith vs Sunapee 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Meredith | Sunapee | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
6,758 |
3,416Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sunapee 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Sunapee 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.