Compare towns
Randolph vs Sutton vs Middlesex 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Sutton | Middlesex | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
9,452Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Middlesex 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.