Compare towns
Northfield vs Hooksett vs Williamstown 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Northfield | Hooksett | Williamstown | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
15,057Highest |
3,579Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest 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 | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Williamstown 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%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. |
1986 6 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 |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Hooksett School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.5 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.