Compare towns

Randolph vs Reading vs Williston

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 ($279k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureRandolphReadingWilliston
People
Population
4,843
699Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4Lowest
6% below VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Reading and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston 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%
21%±3.5Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston and Reading 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
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston and Reading 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
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
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%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
12% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Reading 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Randolph Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4
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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.