Compare towns
Randolph vs Gardner 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gardner | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
21,148Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Randolph 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Randolph 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gardner | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.