Compare towns
Randolph vs Montpelier 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 youngest population (median age 40.4).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Montpelier | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
8,014Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Montpelier 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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Montpelier and Randolph 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Braintree 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.