Compare towns
Randolph vs Williston vs Durham 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Lowest |
10,144 |
15,080Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Randolph 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%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% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Durham and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Durham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Northfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Oyster River Coop School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.