Compare towns
Braintree vs Reading vs Wheelock 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Reading | Wheelock | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
699Lowest |
717 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wheelock 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Reading and Randolph 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wheelock 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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.