Compare towns
Williston vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
9,337 |
4,159Lowest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Williston 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs 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 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Thompson School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.