Compare towns
Putney vs Needham vs Randolph vs Brookline
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Needham | Randolph | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
32,459Highest |
4,843 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | #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 |
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| 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.