Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Randolph vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Northfield | Randolph | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
5,920Highest |
4,843 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.