Compare towns
Randolph vs Barnard vs Plainfield vs Braintree
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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Barnard | Plainfield | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,211 |
2,522 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Barnard 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. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barnard 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. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Plainfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.