Compare towns
Alstead vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Alstead | Castleton | Randolph | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Gilsum and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32k 27% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Alstead 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.