Compare towns
Randolph vs Montpelier vs Middlesex
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 the most renters (46.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
8,014Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Randolph 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.