Compare towns
Montpelier 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
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the most homeowners (72.8%).
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 | Montpelier | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Montpelier and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5Lowest 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 | 6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 23% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.