What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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	Salem
People
Population	4,843Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.
	Salem 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%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Salem 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.	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S.	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Highest 51% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Randolph 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	#376 of 484 in NY
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Highest	8.5Lowest
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.