Compare towns
Essex vs Randolph vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Randolph | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
4,843Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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+ | 57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Essex 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.