Compare towns
Randolph vs Braintree vs Northfield vs Tunbridge
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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Randolph | Braintree | Northfield | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
1,026Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Braintree 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.