Compare towns
Williston vs Sharon 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Sharon | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
442Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Richmond 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% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%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% |
1.6%±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±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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 43% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Williston 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. |
$1,458±$1kLowest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Sharon 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school 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.