Compare towns

Williston vs Waterbury 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).

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.

MeasureWillistonWaterburyRichmond
People
Population
10,144Highest
5,405
4,159Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Williston and Waterbury 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%
54.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and Waterbury 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
$103,917±$23kLowest
28% above VT
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
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
50% above VT
$447,200±$40k
41% above VT
$432,200±$39kLowest
37% above VT
Williston and Waterbury 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
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
11% above VT
$6,435
28% above VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Waterbury 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%
7.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1983Lowest
7 yrs newer than VT
1983Lowest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
16% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury 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 #20 of 70 in VT #5 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 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 Our Story 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.