Compare towns
Williston vs Randolph vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
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 | Williston | Randolph | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
4,843Lowest |
17,648Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% 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 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,474±$122 19% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,471 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Lowest 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 | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
20 min 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Colchester 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.