Compare towns
Randolph vs Williston vs Sharon vs Braintree
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%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Sharon | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
10,144Highest |
1,577 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Williston 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Braintree 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sharon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | 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.