Compare towns
Braintree vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
3,216 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| 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±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Braintree 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 |
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.