Compare towns
Cambridge vs Williston vs Randolph vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Cambridge | Williston | Randolph | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,843 |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Williston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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+ | 50.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.