Compare towns
Braintree vs Randolph vs Wilder vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Braintree | Randolph | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,843 |
3,087 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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 | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 | 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.