Compare towns
Bolton vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Bolton | Castleton | Randolph | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
| Barnard and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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 | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Barnard 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 | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.