Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Walden
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,843 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Walden 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%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 |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.