Compare towns
Hartford vs Williston vs Essex Junction vs Randolph
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).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Williston | Essex Junction | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
10,144 |
10,803Highest |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Essex High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | 11.7Highest |
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.