Compare towns

Gray vs Randolph vs Williston vs Hampden

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureGrayRandolphWillistonHampden
People
Population
8,429
4,843Lowest
10,144Highest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
40.4±7.4Lowest
4% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
Williston and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$301,300±$38k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,172±$173Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Hampden 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 #10 of 133 in ME #55 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 RSU 22
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Randolph Union High School None in town Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
9.4Lowest
—
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet 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.