Compare towns

Randolph vs Dummerston vs Northfield vs Braintree

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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).

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.

MeasureRandolphDummerstonNorthfieldBraintree
People
Population
4,843
2,090
5,920Highest
1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
Braintree and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.2%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3
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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$79,803±$5k
about the VT average
Dummerston 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$274,400±$21k
13% below VT
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
Dummerston 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
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,018±$207
18% below VT
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
Dummerston 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
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4Lowest
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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
81%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
12% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
26 min
11% above VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
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.