Compare towns
Randolph vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Derby | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
4,537Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Derby 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% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Derby 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±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | 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 |
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.