Compare towns
Randolph vs Williston vs Bennington vs Brookfield
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Williston | Bennington | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
10,144 |
15,249Highest |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookfield 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Bennington 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Williston and Brookfield 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.