Compare towns
Putney vs Randolph vs Shelburne
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).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Randolph | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.