Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Arlington | Castleton | Randolph | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
| Shaftsbury and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.