Compare towns
Wilder vs Randolph vs Middlesex vs Royalton
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 youngest population (median age 40.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Wilder | Randolph | Middlesex | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
4,843Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Randolph 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 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±$6k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.