Compare towns
Hartford vs Randolph vs Middlesex 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).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Hartford | Randolph | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
4,843 |
1,943Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.