Compare towns
Chelsea vs Randolph vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most homeowners (81.2%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Chelsea | Randolph | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Lowest |
2,007 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Chelsea and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13k 19% below VT |
$75,069±$11kHighest 8% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Randolph and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Chelsea and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| Chelsea and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Chelsea 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 | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — | — |
| High school 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.