Compare towns
Randolph vs Bristol 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Bristol | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
3,778Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Bristol 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% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Lowest 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±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest 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 | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #31 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.0 |
| 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.