Compare towns
Worcester 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Richmond has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Worcester | Waterbury | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,405Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,027±$535Highest 17% below VT |
— |
| Waterbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Worcester 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.