What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Randolph	Shaftsbury
People
Population	2,007Lowest	3,607Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT	43±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	Randolph and Shaftsbury 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%	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	24.2%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4%	21.8%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Randolph and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Randolph and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,069±$11kLowest 8% below VT	$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT
	Shaftsbury 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±$25kLowest 26% below VT	$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT
	Shaftsbury and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$198Highest 11% below VT	$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT
	Randolph and Shaftsbury 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	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4%	52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Randolph and Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	82.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Randolph and Shaftsbury 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	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.