Compare towns
Williston vs Middlesex vs Braintree vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Middlesex | Braintree | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,943 |
1,026Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Middlesex 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±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Braintree 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.