Compare towns
Bolton vs Randolph vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Bolton | Randolph | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
4,843 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Bolton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.