Compare towns
Colchester vs Milton vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most people working from home (19%).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Colchester | Milton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
10,769 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
41.6±2.5Highest 3% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Milton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Colchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
| Milton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 9% above VT |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester and Milton 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #56 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Milton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | Milton Senior High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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.