Compare towns
Jay vs Randolph vs Williston vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Jay | Randolph | Williston | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,843 |
10,144Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.