Compare towns
Braintree vs Charleston vs Mapleton vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Charleston | Mapleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
936Lowest |
1,884 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Charleston School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.