Compare towns
Barnard vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Barnard | Castleton | Plainfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
4,453 |
2,522 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.