Compare towns
Randolph vs Reading vs Sheldon
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 renters (32.8% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Reading | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
699Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Reading and Sheldon 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Reading and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Sheldon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.