Compare towns
Braintree vs Mendon vs Randolph vs Benson
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Randolph | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,113 |
2,007Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
50.5±7.7Lowest 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$75,069±$11kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Mendon 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 31% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Benson 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.