Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield 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
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Brookfield | Northfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,486 |
5,920Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 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+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 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 | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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 | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.