Compare towns
Hardwick 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
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
2,622Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Hardwick and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Hardwick and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest 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 | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 9.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.