Compare towns
Northfield vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Waltham | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
452Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.