Compare towns
Hartford vs Essex Junction 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
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Essex Junction | Randolph | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
10,803Highest |
4,843Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 4% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford 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 | Hartford High School | Essex High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
11.7Highest |
9.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.