Compare towns
Bristol vs Putney 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
Bristol has the most homeowners (97.6%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Bristol | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,081Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,000±$25kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,600±$52kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,208Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Bristol 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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.