Compare towns
Barre vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Castleton | Randolph | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
4,453Lowest |
4,843 |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 9.4Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.