Compare towns
Williston vs Wilder vs Essex Junction 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%).
Essex Junction has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
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.
| Measure | Williston | Wilder | Essex Junction | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,087Lowest |
10,803Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%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% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction 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±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% 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 |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%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 |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.