What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).

Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Randolph	Orford
People
Population	4,843Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
	Orford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Orford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Randolph and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S.
	Orford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Randolph and Orford 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	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.