Compare towns
Randolph vs Williston vs Essex Junction vs Castleton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Essex Junction | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
10,144 |
10,803Highest |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Williston and Randolph 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% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Essex Junction 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% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 12% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.