Compare towns
Brookfield vs Nelson 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
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Nelson | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
648Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Brookfield 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 | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.