Compare towns
Randolph vs Jay vs Middlesex vs Cambridge
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
471Lowest |
1,943 |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
| Jay and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Middlesex 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Middlesex and Cambridge 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Randolph 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cambridge School District |
| 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.