Compare towns
Putney vs Mount Desert 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Mount Desert | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,671Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Putney 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% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert and Randolph 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% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest 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 |
$92,813±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert 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. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Randolph 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. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Desert 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | 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 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.