Compare towns
Randolph vs Mendon vs Salisbury 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Mendon | Salisbury | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
1,113Lowest |
1,200 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Salisbury 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Salisbury and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Northfield 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.