Compare towns

Essex Junction vs Exeter vs Randolph

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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.

MeasureEssex JunctionExeterRandolph
People
Population
10,803
16,151Highest
4,843Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
Exeter and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Randolph and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,257±$16k
11% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,500±$20k
22% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,544±$135
9% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,172±$173Lowest
17% below U.S.
Exeter and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,797
118% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.3%±14.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Essex Junction and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Essex Junction 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 #14 of 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH #55 of 70 in VT
School district Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Essex High School Exeter High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
12.1Highest
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.