Compare towns
Randolph vs Saco vs Windham 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Saco | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%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% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Windham and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.