Compare towns
Alstead vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Gorham
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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% 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. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Alstead 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Castleton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.