Compare towns
Randolph vs Appleton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% 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.
| Measure | Randolph | Appleton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$72,344±$19k 10% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,910Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Appleton 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 | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Appleton Public Schools | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.