Compare towns
Randolph vs Fairfax 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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
5,226Highest |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Fairfax 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±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 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 |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fairfax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.