Compare towns
Putney vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton 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%).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Putney | Bowdoin | Mapleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Mapleton 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% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Mapleton 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% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 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 |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Putney and Bowdoin 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. |
— | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.