Compare towns
Northfield vs Durham 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
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
10,681Highest |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Durham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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 |
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.