Compare towns
Williston vs Wardsboro vs Stratton vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Wardsboro | Stratton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Stratton 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 50% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| 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 48% above VT |
$1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 | None yet |
VT 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.