Compare towns

Randolph vs Windham vs Windsor 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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
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.

MeasureRandolphWindhamWindsorNorthfield
People
Population
4,843
594Lowest
2,060
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
44.6±12.3Highest
3% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Windsor and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±8.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Windsor and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
$71,768±$13k
12% below VT
Windham 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
$274,400±$21k
13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
—
$1,002±$107Lowest
19% below VT
$1,018±$207
18% below VT
Randolph and Northfield 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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,878
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1956
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
12% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
27 minHighest
16% above VT
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 — #61 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Randolph Union High School — — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
— —
10.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.