Compare towns
Putney vs Randolph vs Springfield vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,843 |
9,084Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.