Compare towns

Williston vs Randolph vs Sunapee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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.

MeasureWillistonRandolphSunapee
People
Population
10,144Highest
4,843
3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
40.4±7.4Lowest
4% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee and Randolph 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
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
$393,000±$51k
18% above U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,172±$173Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,713±$451
21% above U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Randolph 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 #14 of 120 in NH
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Sunapee School District
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4Lowest
11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.