Compare towns
Wilder vs Randolph vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Wilder | Randolph | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
4,843Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Randolph and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Randolph and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.