Compare towns
Braintree vs Plainfield vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.