Compare towns
Williston vs Upton vs Sturbridge 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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Upton | Sturbridge | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
8,189 |
9,960 |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Richmond 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sturbridge 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Williston 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.