Compare towns
Bethel vs Putney vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Bethel | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.