Compare towns
Randolph vs Sharon vs Strafford vs Wilder
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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Sharon | Strafford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Strafford 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.