Compare towns
Randolph vs Colchester vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Colchester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
17,648Highest |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,471Highest 9% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Colchester School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Colchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.