Compare towns
Bristol vs Putney vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | 3,778 |
2,622Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Putney 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.