Compare towns
Randolph vs Plaistow 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Plaistow | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Lowest |
7,861Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Timberlane Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.0 |
| 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.