What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Randolph	Essex Junction
People
Population	4,843Lowest	10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT
	Randolph and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Lowest 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	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT	$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT
	Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Lowest 7% below VT	$6,797Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest 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	7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 12% below VT	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Essex Junction 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	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.