Compare towns
Randolph vs Reading vs Worcester vs Royalton
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 youngest population (median age 40.4).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Worcester | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
699Lowest |
831 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Randolph 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% 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±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Randolph and Reading 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.