Compare towns
Braintree vs Middlesex vs Rochester 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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Rochester | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,943 |
1,389 |
2,007Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
We could not complete that request.
Please try again shortly.