Compare towns
Putney vs Randolph vs Swanton vs Cabot
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 oldest population (median age 40.4).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Swanton | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,843Highest |
2,670 |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Randolph and Cabot 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% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Swanton 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%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Putney and Cabot 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% 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±$173 5% below VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Swanton 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 |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.