Compare towns

Randolph vs Northfield vs Middlesex vs Tunbridge

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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

MeasureRandolphNorthfieldMiddlesexTunbridge
People
Population
4,843
5,920Highest
1,943
1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
44.4±3.9Highest
3% above VT
42.7±8.3
about the VT average
Middlesex and Tunbridge 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%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Tunbridge 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%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
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
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$89,464±$26k
10% above VT
Middlesex and Tunbridge 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
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Middlesex and Tunbridge 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
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,333±$359
8% above VT
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
Tunbridge and Middlesex 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
$4,878
3% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,645Lowest
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge 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%
12.5%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
12% below VT
27 min
16% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Tunbridge 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town Randolph Union High School Northfield Middle/High School None in town None in town
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.