Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Westminster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,843 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Randolph 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Randolph 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
9.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.