Compare towns
Randolph vs Waitsfield vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843 |
1,918Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.