Compare towns
Randolph vs Needham vs Braintree vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Needham | Braintree | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
32,459Highest |
1,026Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Needham | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Needham High | None in town | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.