Compare towns

Randolph vs Barton vs Tunbridge vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).

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.

MeasureRandolphBartonTunbridgeNorthfield
People
Population
4,843
730Lowest
1,253
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
40±5.5
7% below VT
42.7±8.3Highest
about the VT average
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Tunbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
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
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
$89,464±$26kHighest
10% above VT
$71,768±$13k
12% below VT
Tunbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
$315,300±$23kHighest
about the VT average
$274,400±$21k
13% below VT
Tunbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
$1,018±$207
18% below VT
Tunbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698
7% below VT
$3,185Lowest
37% below VT
$4,645
8% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
VT: 73.2%
52.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1956
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
12% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Barton 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 #55 of 70 in VT #38 of 70 in VT — #42 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — First Branch Unified School District #82 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Randolph Union High School — None in town Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
— —
10.0Highest
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.