Compare towns
Randolph vs Middlesex vs Calais 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Calais 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 Our Story | 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.