Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Randolph vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Essex Junction | Randolph | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
4,843Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Randolph Union High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.4Lowest |
9.6 |
| 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.