Compare towns
Randolph vs Northfield vs Ira
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Northfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
5,920Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Ira 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.