Compare towns

Randolph vs Westford 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).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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.

MeasureRandolphWestfordNorthfield
People
Population
4,843
2,290Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
44.1±8.6Highest
about the VT average
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Westford 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
VT: 17.9%
16.9%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Randolph and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
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%
VT: 43.8%
52.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
9.5%±4.6Lowest
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
$112,750±$12kHighest
39% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$424,500±$21kHighest
34% above VT
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
$2,375±$1kHighest
92% above VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
Westford 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
$6,282Highest
25% above VT
$4,878
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
29.8%±31Lowest
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%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
12% below VT
33 minHighest
42% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±6.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Westford 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 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 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.