Compare towns
Randolph vs Putney vs Middlesex vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Putney | Middlesex | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,622 |
1,943Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Royalton 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,040±$391 16% 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.