Compare towns

Exeter vs Northfield vs Randolph

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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.

MeasureExeterNorthfieldRandolph
People
Population
16,151Highest
5,920
4,843Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
Exeter and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Randolph and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Randolph 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 #22 of 120 in NH #42 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Exeter High School Northfield Middle/High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
10.0
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 59 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.