Compare towns
Randolph vs Worcester vs Ira vs Brookfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Worcester | Ira | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
831 |
381Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Ira and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Randolph and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ira 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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.