Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Townsend
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).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Randolph | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
4,843Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Randolph 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. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
9.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.