Compare towns
Hartford vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Worcester | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
831Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Worcester and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Randolph 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% |
19.5%±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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Hartford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Hartford 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.