Compare towns
Randolph vs Williston vs Cambridge 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Williston | Cambridge | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
10,144Highest |
3,767Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Northfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Cambridge School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.