Compare towns
Randolph vs Plainfield vs Braintree vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Braintree | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
1,314 |
1,026Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Braintree 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 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 Our Story | 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.