Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Essex Junction 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
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hartford | Dover | Essex Junction | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
33,364Highest |
10,803 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 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 | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | Essex High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.7Highest |
11.7 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.