Compare towns
Randolph vs Fair Haven vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Fair Haven | Middlesex | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,724 |
1,943 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.