Compare towns
Putney vs Nelson 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Nelson | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
648Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Randolph 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%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% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Putney 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. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Nelson School District | 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 | 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.