Compare towns

Worcester vs Randolph vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.

MeasureWorcesterRandolphStrafford
People
Population
831Lowest
4,843Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
40.4±7.4Lowest
6% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
Randolph and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,698
7% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Randolph and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Strafford 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.