Compare towns
Northfield vs Bennington vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
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 | Northfield | Bennington | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
15,249Highest |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest 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 | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
14.7Highest |
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.