Compare towns
Randolph vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Lowest |
9,960Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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%±3Lowest 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% |
49.3%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% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
7.7Lowest |
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.