Compare towns
Putney vs Hanover vs Randolph vs Cabot
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 40.4).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Randolph | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
8,479Highest |
4,843 |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
40.3±6.6 4% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$77,031±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$268,500±$77kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,243±$354 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,639Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Putney 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Cabot 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.



