Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Colrain vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Ripton | Colrain | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,627 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Colrain 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Colrain 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.