Compare towns
Northfield vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Worcester 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | None yet | 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.