Compare towns
Braintree vs Nelson 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
648Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Randolph 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson 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.