Compare towns

Williston vs Wilder vs Brattleboro 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 most expensive homes ($476k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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.

MeasureWillistonWilderBrattleboroRichmond
People
Population
10,144
3,087Lowest
12,122Highest
4,159
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%
VT: +2.8%
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
45.5±8.9
6% above VT
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
43.7±5.6Lowest
about the VT average
Brattleboro and Wilder 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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
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%
27.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wilder and Brattleboro 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%
60.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Wilder and Williston 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
$75,143±$9k
7% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below 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
$273,200±$18k
14% below VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below 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
$1,142±$451
7% below VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
11% above VT
$5,505Lowest
9% above VT
$5,700
13% above VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.9%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
62.9%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
16% below VT
17 minLowest
29% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4
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 — #33 of 70 in VT #5 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town — Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
—
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.