Compare towns
Gardner 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
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Gardner | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest 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 | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Gardner | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.