What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	4,843Lowest	5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S.	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173 17% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Highest 51% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.