Compare towns
Randolph vs Halifax vs Walden 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 renters (32.8% rent).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
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 | Halifax | Walden | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
847Lowest |
1,037 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Walden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Walden 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Randolph and Brookfield 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Walden 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Halifax School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.