Compare towns

Putney vs Barre 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

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyBarreRandolph
People
Population
2,622Lowest
5,572Highest
4,843
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
43.8±8.5Highest
13% above U.S.
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±5.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
Barre and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$394,300±$55kHighest
19% above U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
Barre and Putney 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.
$1,030±$713
27% below U.S.
$1,172±$173Highest
17% below U.S.
Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±27.5Lowest
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
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #32 of 70 in VT #134 of 282 in MA #55 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Quabbin Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town Quabbin Regional High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.