What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Randolph	Barre
People
Population	4,843Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.
	Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Randolph and Barre 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%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S.	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Randolph and Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Quabbin
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	12.9Highest
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.