Compare towns
Benson vs Randolph vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Benson | Randolph | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,007Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$75,069±$11kLowest 8% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.