Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Williston | Mendon | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,113Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Mendon and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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 | 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.