Compare towns
Randolph vs Jay vs Braintree 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Jay | Braintree | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007Highest |
471Lowest |
1,026 |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.7±5.6Lowest 13% above VT |
| Braintree and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Ludlow 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198Highest 11% below VT |
— | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Braintree 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.