Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Northfield vs Randolph

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsNorthfieldRandolph
People
Population
2,891Lowest
5,920Highest
4,843
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7Highest
4% below VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
Bellows Falls and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Bellows Falls and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Lowest
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
Northfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below VT
$71,768±$13k
12% below VT
$76,758±$6kHighest
5% below VT
Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
38% below VT
$274,400±$21k
13% below VT
$278,700±$38kHighest
12% below VT
Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
Randolph and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448Lowest
12% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
$4,698
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
Northfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1956
20 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
21 min
12% below VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Randolph and Northfield 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 — #42 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT
School district — Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town — Northfield Middle/High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0Highest
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.