Compare towns

Putney vs Ripton vs Burke vs Randolph

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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).

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.

MeasurePutneyRiptonBurkeRandolph
People
Population
2,622
508Lowest
1,317
4,843Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
41.1±4.8
5% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
Ripton and Burke 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Burke 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$87,143±$17k
7% above VT
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below VT
Ripton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$340,600±$18k
8% above VT
$278,700±$38kLowest
12% below VT
Ripton and Burke 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
—
$938±$191
24% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
Randolph and Burke 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
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,177
about the VT average
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Putney 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
10%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
8% above VT
21 min
12% below VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None 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 6 photos → 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.