Compare towns
Mendon vs Putney vs Randolph vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Mendon | Putney | Randolph | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— |
| Mendon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.