Compare towns
Williston vs Paxton 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%).
Paxton has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Paxton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,002 |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Paxton 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 43% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Paxton 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. |
$1,386±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wachusett | 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 History | 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.