Compare towns

Northfield vs Thetford vs Randolph

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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureNorthfieldThetfordRandolph
People
Population
5,920Highest
2,813Lowest
4,843
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
43.6±6.2Highest
about the VT average
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
Thetford 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%
15.4%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Randolph and Thetford 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%
20.8%±6
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Thetford 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%
68%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
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
$88,045±$16kHighest
8% above VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
Thetford 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
13% below VT
$329,500±$96kHighest
4% above VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
Thetford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,141±$96
8% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
Randolph and Thetford 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
$6,948Highest
38% above VT
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
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%
8%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
16% above VT
23 min
4% below VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
Work from home
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
Thetford 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 #40 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Thetford School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Northfield Middle/High School None in town Randolph Union High School
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.