Compare towns
Braintree vs Heath vs Benson 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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Heath | Benson | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
765Lowest |
784 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Benson 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Heath 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±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Heath and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 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 |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Braintree 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 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.