Compare towns
Braintree vs Randolph vs Williston vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,843 |
10,144 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.