Compare towns
Randolph vs Plainfield vs Brookfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Plainfield | Brookfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
616Lowest |
1,486 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
50.6±9.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,458Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 |
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.