Compare towns
Randolph vs Fairfax vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% 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 | Randolph | Fairfax | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,007 |
5,226Highest |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Randolph and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198Highest 11% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,507 11% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.