Compare towns

Cambridge 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

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureCambridgeNorthfieldRandolph
People
Population
3,767Lowest
5,920Highest
4,843
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.4±1.8
13% below VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
40.4±7.4Highest
6% below VT
Randolph and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.2Lowest
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
$72,344±$19k
11% below VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$76,758±$6kHighest
5% below VT
Randolph and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$343,000±$38kHighest
8% above VT
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,183±$66Highest
4% below VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,910Highest
about the VT average
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.6%±7.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cambridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.3%
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
38% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
Work from home
9.9%±4.1Lowest
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 #25 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT
School district Cambridge School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school 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

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.