Compare towns
Randolph vs Montpelier 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 affordable homes ($279k median).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
8,014Highest |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Montpelier 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% 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 |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Montpelier 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.