Compare towns
Braintree vs Townsend vs Randolph 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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Townsend | Randolph | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
9,100Highest |
4,843 |
2,007 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7 30% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Randolph 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 U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$75,069±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Randolph 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | North Middlesex | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Randolph Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.