Compare towns
Braintree vs Marshfield vs Sheffield 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).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Randolph has the most expensive homes ($279k median).
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 | Marshfield | Sheffield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
470Lowest |
573 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
42±8 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Sheffield 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 VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Marshfield 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 31% below VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
| 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 32% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Randolph 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Marshfield 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 |
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.