Compare towns

Northfield vs Gorham 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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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.

MeasureNorthfieldGorhamRandolph
People
Population
5,920
18,300Highest
4,843Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
40.4±7.4Highest
4% above U.S.
Randolph and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Randolph 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%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
Gorham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Randolph 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Gorham 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 #24 of 133 in ME #55 of 70 in VT
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Gorham Public Schools Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Northfield Middle/High School Gorham High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
12.9Highest
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.