Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Colrain 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Colrain | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
1,627 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Putney 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
— | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.