Compare towns
Heath vs Putney vs Randolph vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Heath | Putney | Randolph | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 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+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Putney and Heath 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. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 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 | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | #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 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.