Compare towns
Randolph vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Salem | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
2,611Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Salem and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salem 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±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
8.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.