Compare towns
Putney vs Fairfield vs Brookline vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Fairfield | Brookline | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,938 |
531Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Brookline and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Brookline 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 VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Fairfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fairfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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 | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.