Compare towns
Northfield vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
6,758Highest |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | #62 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.1Highest |
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.