Compare towns
Williston vs White River Junction vs Brookfield 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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | White River Junction | Brookfield | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,364 |
1,486Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Brookfield 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Brookfield 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 | 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.