Compare towns
Gray 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
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Gray | Northfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
5,920 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Gray and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Lowest 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 | $95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Gray and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.0 |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.