Compare towns
Randolph vs Plainfield vs Middlesex 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% 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 |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | 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 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.