Compare towns
Braintree vs Bristol vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
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 | Braintree | Bristol | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
3,778 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.