Compare towns
Northfield vs Gorham vs Randolph vs Williamstown
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).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Gorham | Randolph | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
18,300Highest |
4,843 |
3,579Lowest |
| 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% |
+3.7% 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±7.4 4% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Williamstown 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest 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. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Williamstown 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Northfield 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest 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. |
1986 6 yrs newer 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. |
23 min 12% 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% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Gorham Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Gorham High School | Randolph Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
12.9Highest |
9.4Lowest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.