Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% 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 | Benson | Castleton | Randolph | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Benson and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rockingham 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 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.