Compare towns

Northfield vs Randolph vs Richmond

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

MeasureNorthfieldRandolphRichmond
People
Population
5,920Highest
4,843
4,159Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
43.7±5.6Highest
about the VT average
Richmond 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
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Richmond and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
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
VT: 43.8%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
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
12% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$432,200±$39kHighest
37% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
—
Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
16% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Richmond 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 #55 of 70 in VT #5 of 70 in VT
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town Northfield Middle/High School Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Highest
9.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.