Compare towns

Randolph vs Plainfield 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureRandolphPlainfieldNorthfield
People
Population
4,843
2,522Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4Highest
4% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Randolph and Plainfield 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Northfield 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%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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 #19 of 120 in NH #42 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Plainfield School District 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 Our Story 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.