Compare towns
Randolph vs Sutton vs Benson 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 (+7.7%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Benson | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
2,239 |
784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Benson 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Randolph 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Randolph 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 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 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.