Compare towns
Williston vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Salem | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,611Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Salem and Williston 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% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% 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±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.