Compare towns
Randolph vs Middlebury vs Braintree
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 kids (17.3% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
9,175Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Braintree 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Randolph and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.