Compare towns
Randolph vs Windham vs Braintree 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Windham | Braintree | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
19,188Highest |
1,026Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 14 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Windham High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.