Compare towns
Fairfax 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
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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.
| Measure | Fairfax | Northfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226 |
5,920Highest |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest 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+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Lowest 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 | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Lowest 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.0Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.