Compare towns
Williston vs Norwich 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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Norwich | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,640Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Norwich 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 50% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,460±$322Lowest 18% above VT |
— |
| Williston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.