Compare towns
Williston vs Montpelier 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%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
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 | Montpelier | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
8,014 |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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 VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Montpelier 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 |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| 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±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$375,100±$21kLowest 18% above 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 |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Montpelier 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% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.