Compare towns
Williston vs Rochester vs Randolph
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Williston | Rochester | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,389Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Rochester and Williston 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Randolph 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Williston 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 |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| 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.