Compare towns
Randolph vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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 | Randolph | Sheldon | Williston | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Randolph and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Williston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,507 11% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8 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 | 14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Randolph 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.