Compare towns

Putney vs Ripton vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.

MeasurePutneyRiptonPlainfieldRandolph
People
Population
2,622
508Lowest
2,522
4,843Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
Ripton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Lowest
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%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
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±$15k
40% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
Plainfield and Ripton 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.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
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%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
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%
5.2%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%
87.3%
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.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #55 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Plainfield School District 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.